Accra, July 1, 2025 –“If we’re spending millions of dollars to import poultry, then surely that same amount can be invested to strengthen our systems here,” said the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, as she threw a bold challenge to stakeholders in Ghana’s agriculture sector. “This is not just a rhetorical question she added but a challenge to every stakeholder to think differently and act boldly.”
The Minister’s statement set the tone for the 5th National Poultry Day celebration in Accra, which brought together policymakers, farmers, chefs, civil society actors, and cultural leaders in a spirited display of national resolve toward poultry self-sufficiency. Themed around innovation, homegrown solutions, and economic resilience, the event was a call to reduce Ghana’s overreliance on imported poultry and instead invest in strengthening local value chains.
Hon. Gomashie underscored the importance of viewing poultry not just through an agricultural lens but as a matter of cultural pride and national identity. She encouraged Ghanaians to embrace poultry farming as a lifestyle that supports food sovereignty and preserves traditional Ghanaian cuisine.
“Why should Ghana continue importing poultry feed when local alternatives can be developed?” she asked. She urged research institutions, innovators, and entrepreneurs to collaborate and develop local feed solutions to address one of the sector’s biggest bottlenecks.
Supporting the Minister’s remarks, Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. John Setor Dumelo, highlighted the potential of poultry farming as a viable source of livelihood and national progress. “This is the best time to be a poultry farmer in Ghana,” he said. “Even if you start with just ten birds in your backyard, you are reducing imports and feeding your family.
A major highlight of the day was the launch of the “Nkunkor Nkiti Nkiti” project—an initiative that seeks to promote household poultry farming as both a lifestyle and a patriotic act. As part of the rollout, birds were distributed to participants and Senior High Schools including Accra Academy, PRESEC Legon, and Achimota SHS.
The celebration also featured culinary exhibitions and competitions that showcased the diversity and richness of Ghana’s poultry-based cuisine, further reinforcing the role of poultry in Ghana’s cultural identity and national development.
Source: Public Relations Unit -MoTCCA
