Ghana Secures $270 Million Poultry Investment and Targets $10 Billion Export Revenue Amid Agricultural Risks

Ghana’s agricultural sector is undergoing a significant transformation as the government and private partners announce a landmark $270 million investment in the poultry industry alongside ambitious new targets for non-traditional exports. The 24-Hour Economy Authority has finalized this multi-partner agreement under the National Poultry Transformation Programme, aiming to drastically reduce the nation’s $400 million annual expenditure on imported poultry. This strategic move coincides with a call from Minister of Trade Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare for Ghana to reach $10 billion in non-traditional export revenue by 2030 through aggressive value addition and local processing of agricultural products.

The $270 million poultry investment involves a consortium including Agrium Capital (UK), Petra Pension Trust, Axis Pension Trust, and the Ghana EXIM Bank. The initiative is designed to create a vertically integrated industry—spanning feed cropping, processing, and logistics—to produce 20,000 tonnes of processed broiler products annually, with plans to scale to 50,000 tonnes. Beyond improving food security, the project is expected to generate 12,000 direct jobs, supporting President John Mahama’s broader economic revitalization agenda through the 24-hour work cycle model.

While the poultry sector receives this boost, the Ministry of Trade is simultaneously pushing for a national shift from raw material exports to high-value processed goods. Speaking at the Ghana International Horticulture Expo, Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare noted that non-traditional exports already surpassed $5 billion in 2025, representing a 30.7% increase from the previous year. By processing agricultural products like cocoa locally, the government aims to maximize earnings and stabilize rural incomes, though the Minister acknowledged that infrastructure challenges like fragmented supply chains and limited irrigation must be addressed to sustain this momentum.

However, these economic ambitions face significant environmental and security headwinds. Fitch Solutions has issued a warning that the cocoa sector is at risk as the peak El Niño period coincides with the October-December crop cycle. Below-average rainfall and higher temperatures could threaten yields in both Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, potentially impacting government revenues. These macro-level climate risks are mirrored at the micro-level in the Ada West District, where tomato farmers in the Koluedor enclave are battling production losses from heavy rainfall and a recent surge in farm thefts by individuals taking advantage of favorable market prices.

In response to these local challenges, community leaders and farmers such as Daniel Kitcher are calling for enhanced vigilance and cooperation to protect agricultural investments. As market prices for tomatoes remain high, thieves have increasingly targeted farms during early morning and late-night hours. Stakeholders emphasize that for Ghana to achieve its $10 billion export target and successfully implement the 24-Hour Economy goals, security for smallholder farmers and resilience against climate volatility must remain central to the national agricultural strategy.