The victory of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government marks a turning point for Ghana’s poultry sector, which has struggled to compete with cheap imports for years. According to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, Ghana consumed approximately 300,000 metric tons of poultry last year, with a staggering 95% of this demand met through imports, costing the country $280 million.

Local production accounted for only 5% of the total, highlighting the urgent need for bold interventions.

The NDC’s manifesto includes a transformative policy aimed at revitalizing the industry.

This involves incentivizing poultry farmers, promoting local consumption through the ‘Made-in-Ghana’ agenda, and rolling out the innovative ‘Poultry Farm to Table’ project.

These measures promise to address the high production costs, market access challenges, and import dependency that have plagued the sector for years.

As an Agricultural Extension professional with a strong background in agribusiness and a passion for empowering farmers, I fully support this initiative.

My experience working with farmers across Ghana has shown me the challenges they face and the potential for growth when the right policies are in place.

This initiative offers a practical roadmap to restore confidence in local poultry production, creating jobs, increasing farmer incomes, and boosting food security.

For our poultry farmers, who have long endured economic struggles, this policy is a beacon of hope.

To poultry farmers and all Ghanaians, this is the time to look forward with optimism.

With the next government’s commitment to implementing these bold policies, we can expect significant progress in reducing our reliance on imports and building a thriving poultry industry.

The transformation of Ghana’s poultry sector is within reach.

Let us embrace this opportunity to achieve a sustainable and self-reliant industry that benefits all Ghanaians. Together, we can make Ghana a leader in poultry production across West Africa.