Mahama tours massive poultry factory as Ghana pushes for chicken self-sufficiency

President John Dramani Mahama has inspected a large-scale poultry processing facility under construction in Bechem, Ahafo Region, signalling government commitment to transforming Ghana's meat industry and reducing reliance on imported chicken. The factory, designed to process 6,000 birds per hour, represents a significant investment in local agricultural infrastructure and food security.

The facility is being developed by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture as part of a wider national strategy to achieve self-sufficiency in poultry production. Currently 50 percent complete, the project is on track for full completion by March 2025, according to the contractor briefing the President during the weekend inspection tour.

Production capacity and economic impact

Once fully operational, the Bechem factory will substantially increase Ghana's domestic poultry processing capability. The facility has already received all necessary equipment, which will be installed as soon as construction work concludes. Beyond expanding processing capacity, the plant is expected to create employment opportunities and provide direct support to poultry farmers operating in the Bechem area and surrounding regions. The facility will serve as a collection and processing hub, helping to formalise and scale local poultry production networks.

Why it matters for Ghana

Ghana has long struggled with high dependence on imported chicken, placing strain on foreign exchange reserves and making local poultry farmers less competitive. This factory addresses both issues by creating modern processing infrastructure that meets international quality standards while supporting domestic producers. The Bechem project aligns with broader government efforts to develop agricultural infrastructure outside major urban centres, promoting economic activity in regional areas. For consumers, improved local processing capacity may help stabilise chicken prices and ensure fresher, domestically-produced poultry is readily available. The project also signals that government is prioritising tangible agricultural investments rather than rhetoric alone.

Regional development and agricultural transformation

The Ahafo Region has significant poultry farming potential but historically lacked modern processing facilities, forcing farmers to sell live birds or transport products to distant markets at higher cost. This factory removes that bottleneck. By clustering processing capacity regionally, the government can create agricultural value chains that benefit multiple stakeholders: farmers receive better prices, workers gain formal employment, and the broader economy saves foreign exchange currently spent importing processed poultry. The March 2025 deadline will be critical to monitor; delays could affect the project's credibility and implementation of similar initiatives elsewhere.

Ghana's food import bill remains substantial, and poultry is a significant component. While this single factory cannot resolve national import dependency, it represents a step towards building competitive domestic production. Success here could encourage private investment in similar facilities and strengthen the case for further agricultural industrialisation across Ghana's regions.