President John Dramani Mahama has cut sod for the construction of what he describeds as a “transformative poultry meat and feed processing plant” in Bechem, marking a major milestone in his administration’s Feed Ghana programme and its broader vision to reshape the country’s agricultural and industrial landscape.
Addressing traditional leaders, farmers, industry players and community members, the President said he was proud to begin a project that represents not just an industrial investment but “a decisive national step forward towards building an integrated and self-sustaining poultry value chain.”
The project, known as the Bechem Poultry, Meat and Feed Processing Facility, is one of the flagship anchor investments under the Feed Ghana initiative—an ambitious economic reset strategy aimed at boosting food security, reducing dependence on imports, enhancing agro-industrial competitiveness and generating jobs for young people.
“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, one that empowers farmers, reduces our reliance on imports, and creates high-quality jobs for our young people.”
President John Dramani Mahama
President Mahama stressed that the facility is strategically designed to respond to long-standing structural weaknesses in Ghana’s poultry sector, a sector that has cost the nation “between $300 and $400 million annually on poultry imports for decades.”
He noted that under the Reset Ghana and Feed Ghana programmes, the government has adopted “a bold, integrated, and end-to-end value chain approach” that strengthens production, lowers feed costs, expands processing capacity, builds skills across the sector, and establishes reliable markets for smallholder and commercial farmers.
Planned Agro-Industrial Hubs
“This facility here in Bechem directly addresses these structural constraints,” he emphasised, adding that it is one of several planned agro-industrial hubs intended to reposition Ghana as a competitive poultry and livestock producer in West Africa. President Mahama described the facility as a modern agro-industrial ecosystem built to power the entire poultry value chain.
It will host a feed processing plant capable of producing high-quality and affordable feed, a hygienic meat processing unit designed to meet both domestic and international standards, cold storage and dry warehouses to safeguard product quality, as well as dormitories and residential facilities to support training programmes. A training academy will serve young farmers and technical personnel, creating a pipeline of skilled workers for the sector.
“This is not merely an industrial plant. It is a centre of excellence for poultry development, innovation, research, and agribusiness incubation. It will serve as a magnet for private sector investment and a foundation for rural industrialization.”
President John Dramani Mahama
The President further announced that the Bechem facility forms part of a wider series of processing plants planned nationwide to serve as off-take points for the Nkoko Nkitinkiti project, a national initiative aimed at expanding domestic poultry production.
This expansion is backed by several complementary programmes under the Feed Ghana Poultry Transformation Plan, such as poultry farmer table projects supporting 50 commercial farmers and 500 SMEs, the Nkoko Nkitinkiti Backyard Poultry Project targeting three million birds for women and youth, and the Kroela Project, which scales access to hardy dual-purpose breeds for households.
Other interventions include revamping hatcheries, breeder farms, and veterinary services across all regions to build what President Mahama called “a complete national poultry ecosystem, restoring Ghana’s leadership in poultry production in the whole of West Africa.”
Socio-Economic Benefits
Highlighting the socio-economic benefits of the Bechem project, the President said it promises to create thousands of jobs across the value chain—from production and processing to packaging, distribution and retailing.
Farmers will have access to affordable feed, reducing their production costs and enhancing their competitiveness. Processing units will curb post-production losses while ensuring food safety and consumer access. President Mahama stated that the facility’s continuous operation model demonstrates what a fully functional 24-hour economy looks like in practical terms.
He also revealed a new procurement directive aimed at supporting local poultry producers. “I’ve directed the school feeding programme to procure locally produced poultry for feeding our children in school,” he said, noting that this will create a significant ready market for the domestic poultry industry.
Additionally, he announced an upcoming Schools’ Poultry and Livestock Project, which will encourage schools and institutions to own and operate poultry and livestock farms for both consumption and commercial purposes.
The selection of Bechem and the Ahafo Region for the project’s launch, the President noted, was intentional. Ahafo, he said, has become one of Ghana’s most dynamic food production zones, with strong operational links to Dormaa and Kumasi—two major poultry hubs in the Bono and Ashanti regions.
He stated that this places the Bechem facility at a strategic intersection, making it a “central processing and training corridor” that will support surrounding districts and deepen regional integration in poultry and livestock value chains. President Mahama revealed that construction of the facility is expected to be completed within 12 months.
He commended the Minister for Food and Agriculture and his team for their professionalism, and expressed gratitude to the District Assembly, Regional Coordinating Council, development partners, private investors, farmers’ cooperatives and community stakeholders for their support and commitment.
He, however, cautioned that the success of the project depends on “discipline, transparency, effective management and strong community support,” urging all partners to work collaboratively to make the facility a national model for agro-industrial advancement.
Concluding his remarks, the President said the sod-cutting ceremony stands as a powerful symbol of Ghana’s determination to chart a path towards agricultural transformation and economic self-reliance.
“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 industrialization”.
President John Dramani Mahama
According to him, the Bechem project brings the country closer to a future where poultry farmers thrive, young people secure decent work, and Ghana strengthens its food sovereignty.
He then proceeded to officially break ground for the construction of the Bechem Poultry, Meat and Feed Processing Facility, declaring: “It is now my singular honor to officially break ground for the construction of the poultry, meat, and feed processing facility at Bechem in the Ahafo Region. I thank you, and may God bless our homeland Ghana.”
