President John Dramani Mahama yesterday cut the sod for the construction of a multi-purpose poultry and feed processing facility at Bechem in the Ahafo Region, heralding a new era for the country’s poultry industry.
The project, a signature investment under the government’s "Feed Ghana" programme, is designed to build an integrated and self-sustaining poultry value chain, empower farmers, and create thousands of high-quality jobs for the youth.
The project, whose construction is expected to be completed within 12 months, is envisioned to restore Ghana's leadership in poultry production in West Africa.
Addressing a gathering of traditional leaders, farmers and government officials, President Mahama lamented the nation's decades-long reliance on imported poultry, which costs the nation between $300 million and $400 million every year.
"Today's event is far more than a ceremonial activity. It represents a decisive national step forward towards building an integrated and self-sustaining poultry value chain," the President declared.
He stated that the Bechem facility would directly address the structural constraints that had plagued the local industry for years, particularly the high cost of feed, which he described as "the single most important expense in poultry farming".
Facility’s features
The modern agro-industrial hub will comprise a feed processing plant to produce affordable, high-quality feed, a hygienic meat processing unit meeting domestic and export standards, a training academy for young farmers, cold storage facilities and dormitories.
"This is not merely an industrial plant; it's a centre of excellence for poultry development, innovation, research and agribusiness incubation," President Mahama emphasised, adding that the facility would operate continuously to demonstrate a "functional 24-hour economy".
The President also announced a major policy directive to create a ready market for local poultry producers.
"I have directed the School Feeding Programme to procure locally produced poultry for feeding our children in school. This will constitute a significant market for our local poultry industry," he said.
He further revealed that he would soon launch the “Schools Poultry and Livestock Project”, which would encourage educational institutions to own and operate farms for self-consumption and for commerce.
Poultry zone
The choice of Bechem in the Ahafo Region, the President explained, was strategic for the project, as the area had emerged as a dynamic food production zone with strong linkages to major poultry hubs in the Bono and Ashanti regions.
The facility is expected to serve as a central processing and training corridor for the surrounding districts.
President Mahama stated that the Bechem project was one of several anchor projects under the Feed Ghana Poultry Transformation Plan, which includes the Cook-On-Kitten-Kitty backyard poultry project targeting three million beds for women and the youth, and a farmer-to-table project supporting 50 commercial farmers and 500 small and medium-scale enterprises.
The President called for discipline, transparency, and effective management from all stakeholders to ensure the project's success.
"Today's ceremony is a testament to our collective resolve to build a Ghana that produces what it consumes, adds value to what it grows, and creates jobs through rural industrialisation," he stated.
