80% poultry import dependence highlights need to grow local production – Netherlands Ambassador

The Netherlands Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Hans Akerboom, has expressed concern over Ghana’s dependence on imported poultry, saying the country imports about 80% of its poultry supply despite strong domestic demand. He said the situation presented a significant opportunity for Ghana to strengthen local production, create jobs and improve the livelihoods of poultry farmers and businesses.

Speaking at a round-table discussion on the poultry industry in Accra on Monday, October 26, 2026, aimed at strengthening stakeholder collaboration in Ghana’s poultry sector, H.E. Akerboom said Ghana imported poultry worth approximately €18 million from the Netherlands alone in 2024. He noted that the country also imports poultry from other countries, including Belgium, the United States and Brazil, further highlighting the country’s reliance on foreign supplies.

The Ambassador said the figures were worrying but also demonstrated the potential for Ghana to develop a stronger and more competitive domestic poultry industry. “This is not simply about reducing imports. It is about creating the right conditions for Ghanaian farmers to grow their businesses, supply the market day by day and benefit from the demand that already exists,” he said.

He said chicken remained a popular source of protein for many Ghanaian households, creating a ready market for local farmers and businesses. However, he stressed that meeting this demand would require stronger partnership between the government, private sector, financial institutions and knowledge institutions. Ghana-Netherlands partnership H.E. Akerboom said the Netherlands was ready to support Ghana’s efforts to expand domestic poultry production through the exchange of technical knowledge, innovation and investment.

He cited a visit by a Ghanaian delegation to the Netherlands earlier this year, during which officials explored opportunities to draw on Dutch expertise and investment to support the development of Ghana’s poultry industry. According to him, the Netherlands’ poultry sector has grown through sustained investment in knowledge, innovation and collaboration, lessons he said could be adapted to Ghana’s needs.

He said the proposed interventions aligned with the government’s Feed Ghana programme and the 24-hour economy initiative, which could provide opportunities to strengthen agricultural production and create sustainable businesses. The Ambassador announced that he would sign an addendum to the Memorandum of Understanding governing the Ghana-Netherlands Food and Agriculture Working Group, with a specific focus on the poultry sector.

He said the agreement would provide a framework for advancing cooperation and translating the shared ambition of both countries into practical outcomes. As an initial step, H.E. Akerboom said a webinar would be organised in 2027 to present the key outcomes of the round-table discussion and facilitate connections between stakeholders to encourage further collaboration.

He expressed optimism that the partnership would help create opportunities for Ghanaian farmers, businesses and the wider food sector. The round-table discussion forms part of broader efforts to identify practical solutions to the challenges facing Ghana’s poultry industry and improve its capacity to meet domestic demand.