President Mahama Advances 24-Hour Economy with $270M Poultry Investment and District Market Initiative

The 24-Hour Economy Authority has finalized a landmark $270-million agreement to revitalize Ghana's poultry sector, marking a significant milestone in President John Mahama’s signature economic policy. This strategic investment, signed under the National Poultry Transformation Programme, aims to drastically reduce the nation's reliance on imported poultry, which currently costs the state approximately $400 million annually. The initiative represents a major step toward industrializing the agricultural sector while providing a much-needed boost to national food security and trade balances.

The investment involves a high-profile consortium of partners, including Agrium Capital from the United Kingdom, Petra Pension Trust, Axis Pension Trust, and the Ghana EXIM Bank. The project is designed as a comprehensive value-chain intervention, covering everything from feed-crop production to processing and logistics. It sets an initial production target of 20,000 tonnes of processed broiler products per year, with plans to scale up to 50,000 tonnes as the infrastructure matures. Beyond production, the agreement is expected to be a massive engine for employment, with projections suggesting the creation of 12,000 direct jobs for Ghanaians.

Complementing this industrial push, President Mahama has also announced a plan to establish "24-Hour Markets" across all districts to energize local economies. Speaking during his recent "Resetting Ghana" tour, the President emphasized that these markets are intended to serve as functional hubs that support the livelihoods of farmers and traders by providing accessible, safe, and active trading spaces regardless of the time of day. This initiative is a core component of the broader 24-Hour Economy agenda, which seeks to increase business operating hours, enhance productivity, and ensure that economic opportunities are available in every corner of the country.

These combined efforts reflect the government’s strategy to integrate large-scale industrial investment with grassroots economic empowerment. As the 24-Hour Economy Authority moves toward finalizing a formal shareholders’ agreement for the poultry project, the administration is focusing on creating a self-sustaining economic environment. By bridging the gap between modern processing facilities and active local markets, the government intends to transform Ghana into a hub of agricultural productivity and continuous commercial activity, ultimately fostering long-term economic resilience.