Ghana's poultry sector has recorded only marginal growth, with self-sufficiency inching from 10% to 12%, according to Dr Dan Acquaye, Chief Executive Officer of Agri-Impact Limited. The revelation comes as stakeholders question whether the country can feed itself.

Dr Acquaye made the remarks on Friday, July 17, during the Joy Business Roundtable Discussion on the Super Morning Show, held under the theme "Can Ghana feed itself?" The forum examined the future of the sector beyond the government's "Nkoko Nkitinkiti" backyard poultry initiative.

According to him, Ghana was once a net exporter of poultry but has since become heavily reliant on imports. He stressed that to reclaim its position, the Nkoko Nkitinkiti initiative must go beyond policy and be backed by sustained investment, implementation, and collaboration across the value chain.

"We tend to have excellent policies that other countries come and learn from, but then the political will to move resources to support the policy is always lacking," he stated.

He further noted that although policies have consistently existed over the years and across successive governments, the key challenge lies in the political will to implement them. Dr Acquaye criticised the cycle of developing new policies without fully learning from past experiences.

"If we take lessons from previous policies, we will be very circumspect in certain ways we use to deliver on either a policy or strategy," he said.

Dr Acquaye urged stakeholders to convert the sector's challenges into investment opportunities, citing Agro Farm as a model. He noted that the local company sells poultry products at prices lower than imported alternatives, raising questions about what it does differently.

Ghana currently imports between 80% and 95% of its poultry consumption, representing a significant drain on foreign exchange. The Food and Agriculture Minister, Eric Opoku, has said the government is targeting self-sufficiency levels of 25% in 2026 and 104% by 2029.

The discussion forms part of broader efforts to identify sustainable solutions for Ghana’s poultry industry, with stakeholders calling for stronger collaboration and practical measures to boost local production.