President John Dramani Mahama has inspected the Bechem Meat Processing Factory in the Ahafo Region, as the government advances efforts to expand domestic poultry production and strengthen Ghana’s agro-processing industry ahead of the facility’s planned operational launch by the end of the first quarter of 2027.
The facility, which will operate two production lines for broilers and layers, is designed to process 6,000 birds per hour. It forms part of the government’s strategy to connect poultry production with industrial processing, improve market access for farmers and reduce the country’s dependence on imported poultry products.
The factory, together with its accompanying feed mill, is expected to support the government’s Nkoko Nketenkete programme, which has increased domestic poultry production from 4.6 per cent to 22 per cent as of May 2026, according to figures provided by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
“When this factory is completed, Bechem will become the chicken capital of Ghana, and so I encourage all the youth in and around Bechem to take up poultry farming and take advantage of the Feed Ghana programme.”
President of Ghana, H. E John Dramani Mahama
Processing Capacity to Strengthen Poultry Value Chain
The inspection forms part of President Mahama’s Resetting Ghana tour of the Ahafo Region and follows the groundbreaking ceremony for the Poultry, Meat and Feed Processing Plant in Bechem.
The project is expected to establish a stronger connection between poultry farmers and processors by providing infrastructure to handle locally raised birds at commercial scale.
For farmers, the facility could create a more structured route to market, helping them plan production around processing demand while reducing the challenges associated with finding buyers for their birds.
The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, told the President that construction had reached approximately 50 per cent, adding that the contractor had given assurances that the project would be completed and operational by the end of the first quarter of 2027.
Mr Opoku said the government was working towards ensuring a consistent supply of birds to sustain the factory’s operations once it becomes operational.
The planned processing capacity will require coordination among poultry farmers, feed suppliers, distributors and other businesses across the value chain. Contractual arrangements with farmers in the Ashanti, Bono, Upper East and other regions are being considered to secure the supply needed for continuous production.
The facility is also expected to provide cold-storage infrastructure to help farmers preserve their products and improve the handling of poultry before distribution.
President Mahama said monitoring public projects was necessary to ensure that contractors delivered on their commitments, commending Architecture and Engineering Services Limited, the project consultants, for their work.
“When you award a contract to someone for a project like this, there is a need to monitor it and inspect it from time to time.’’
President of Ghana, H.E. John Dramani Mahama
Local Production, Jobs and Market Opportunities
The factory is expected to complement the Nkoko Nketenkete programme under the government’s broader Feed Ghana initiative, which seeks to increase local poultry production and create opportunities for farmers and agribusinesses.
The increase in domestic production from 4.6 per cent to 22 per cent as of May 2026 signals a shift in the supply outlook for the poultry industry. However, sustaining that growth will require adequate processing infrastructure, reliable markets, affordable inputs and efficient distribution systems.
The processing plant and its accompanying feed mill are intended to address part of that challenge by supporting poultry production and providing facilities to process birds for commercial markets.
The development could also generate employment across farming, processing, packaging, storage, transportation and retail, creating opportunities for young people and entrepreneurs in Bechem and surrounding communities.
President Mahama has encouraged young people in the area to consider poultry farming and related businesses, pointing to the anticipated processing facility as an opportunity to participate in the expanding industry.
Beyond direct employment, the project could stimulate demand for locally produced feed and other agricultural inputs, creating opportunities for businesses supplying the poultry sector.
However, the factory’s commercial performance will depend on its ability to secure a steady supply of birds, maintain efficient operations and establish reliable distribution channels for processed products.
Ensuring that locally produced chicken remains competitive will also be important to expanding consumer demand and strengthening the position of domestic producers against imported poultry.
The government’s broader objective is to build a poultry value chain in which increased production is matched by processing capacity and access to markets.
When completed, the Bechem facility is expected to become a major component of that strategy, supporting value addition, agricultural industrialisation and income opportunities for poultry farmers.
Its long term impact will depend on timely completion, effective management and sustained coordination between producers, processors and buyers.
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