Deputy Minister of Agriculture John Dumelo has blamed intermediaries for the high retail prices of locally produced poultry, arguing that their mark-ups make imported chicken more affordable than Ghanaian products.
He said middlemen often purchase poultry from farmers at relatively low prices but sell it to consumers at significantly higher rates, undermining efforts to make locally produced chicken competitive in the domestic market.
Speaking on behalf of the government at a poultry round-table discussion with the Netherlands in Accra on Monday, October 26, 2026, Mr Dumelo said the pricing gap was making it difficult for consumers to access Ghanaian poultry at affordable prices.
“One thing that is of concern to me is the cost of producing poultry. If you look at the cost of production, the number of middlemen that carry it to the consumer, so yes, even though the farmer sells at affordable prices, maybe GHC80 before it gets to the final consumer, it is around GHC 200, and so let’s look at it,” he said.
According to Mr Dumelo, the difference between farm-gate and retail prices risks discouraging consumers from buying locally produced chicken, even as the government seeks to expand domestic production and reduce dependence on imports.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to developing the poultry industry, stressing the importance of addressing challenges affecting local producers.
“We are taking the poultry sector very seriously,” he said.
Ghana relies heavily on imported poultry
Mr Dumelo’s comments follow concerns raised by the Netherlands Ambassador to Ghana, Hans Akerboom, who disclosed that approximately 80 per cent of Ghana’s poultry supply comes from imports.
The ambassador also revealed that Ghana imported poultry products worth about €18 million from the Netherlands alone in 2024, alongside supplies from countries including Belgium, the United States and Brazil.
The figures have renewed attention on the need to strengthen local production, improve market access and encourage closer cooperation between government and private-sector stakeholders.
As part of efforts to address these challenges, Mr Dumelo and Mr Akerboom signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation in Ghana’s poultry sector.
The agreement is expected to provide a framework for collaboration between the two countries to support industry development, with the Netherlands pledging technical expertise, knowledge exchange, innovation and investment.
Mr Akerboom said the partnership would focus on creating conditions for Ghanaian poultry farmers to expand their operations, supply the domestic market consistently and take advantage of existing demand.
He added that the Netherlands’ experience in developing its poultry industry through sustained investment in knowledge and innovation could offer valuable lessons for Ghana.
Partnership to support agricultural development
The Ghana-Netherlands partnership also aligns with the government’s Feed Ghana programme and its 24-hour economy initiative, both of which seek to create opportunities for agricultural production and business growth.
The collaboration is expected to support efforts to improve the competitiveness of Ghanaian poultry producers and strengthen the domestic supply chain.
The discussions also highlighted the importance of addressing the gap between farm-gate and retail prices to ensure that increased local production translates into more affordable poultry for consumers.
