Ghana EXIM Bank will lead poultry sector financing from 2027

Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has announced that the Ghana Export-Import Bank (EXIM Bank) will take the lead in financing the nation's poultry sector starting in 2027. Presenting the 2027 Budget Statement, the Minister detailed a four-year strategic initiative aimed at achieving self-sufficiency in poultry and poultry feed production by 2030. The move signals a major shift toward aggressive import substitution to protect local producers and stabilize the agricultural economy under the government's "New Economy" programme.

To ensure the bank has sufficient financial capacity to drive this transformation, the government plans to uncap the Ghana Export and Import levies. Under this new arrangement, EXIM Bank is mandated to dedicate a minimum of 40% of its total levy revenue specifically to supporting domestic poultry farms and feed manufacturing between 2027 and 2030. This dedicated funding stream is intended to address the long-standing capital challenges faced by local farmers and encourage the expansion of commercial-scale operations that can compete with foreign imports.

Beyond direct financing, the initiative incorporates regulatory measures designed to secure the domestic market. Dr. Forson highlighted plans to implement import permit quotas that will be strictly tied to local production volumes, ensuring that domestic farmers have a guaranteed market share. To further reduce production costs—a significant hurdle for the industry—the government will facilitate technical and logistical linkages between maize and soya bean farmers and local feed mills. This integration is expected to create a more resilient value chain and eventually lower the price of locally produced poultry for Ghanaian consumers.

The poultry intervention serves as a cornerstone of the administration’s broader strategy to enhance domestic industrialization and agricultural growth. By strengthening the poultry value chain, the government expects to create significant employment opportunities in farming, processing, and distribution. This strategy aligns with other national objectives presented in the budget, such as increasing local cocoa processing capacity, all aimed at retaining more economic value within Ghana and reducing the country's historical dependence on foreign goods.