Ghana’s efforts to reduce its dependence on imported chicken have received a fresh boost following a new investment agreement between United Kingdom-based agrifood investment firm Agrium Capital and the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme (24H+).
The agreement advances a proposed US$270 million integrated poultry development programme intended to expand domestic production, strengthen food security and create employment opportunities across the agricultural value chain.
The latest agreement builds on the Heads of Terms signed by the parties in August 2026, bringing together international investment and Ghanaian institutional financing to develop a commercially viable poultry production system.
Petra Trust, Axis Pension Trust and Ghana EXIM Bank participated in the partnership, marking another stage in preparations for the project.
“The agreement underscores the programme’s strategy of mobilising domestic and international private capital into productive sectors.”
24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme
The initiative targets 12,000 direct jobs and seeks to reduce Ghana’s estimated US$400 million annual expenditure on imported chicken and poultry products. Its first phase is expected to produce 20,000 tonnes of dressed and processed broiler products annually, with capacity projected to increase to 50,000 tonnes as the project expands.
Integrated Production to Tackle Import Dependence
The investment comes amid persistent challenges in Ghana’s poultry industry, where local producers face competition from imported frozen chicken, high production costs and limitations in feed supply, processing infrastructure and distribution.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Ghana spends approximately US$300 million to US$400 million annually importing chicken and other poultry products.
These country’s reliance on imports exposes the domestic market to international supply conditions while directing substantial expenditure towards overseas producers.
The proposed programme aims to address these structural weaknesses by establishing an integrated production platform covering feed cultivation and manufacturing, breeding farms, hatcheries, broiler production, processing facilities, cold-chain infrastructure, logistics and market access.
The programme’s projected increase from 20,000 tonnes to 50,000 tonnes of annual processed output represents a potential 150 per cent expansion in production capacity between the initial output level and the proposed higher level.
However, the scale of the investment’s impact will depend on implementation, operational efficiency, reliable feed supplies and the ability of locally produced chicken to compete on price and quality.
“The partnership brings together international private capital, Ghanaian institutional capital and development finance around an integrated poultry platform.”
24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme
Financing, Jobs and Domestic Value Addition
A central feature of the arrangement is the participation of Ghanaian financial institutions alongside Agrium Capital, a subsidiary of Asset Green Ltd.
The involvement of Petra Trust, Axis Pension Trust and Ghana EXIM Bank creates a financing structure intended to combine international private investment with domestic institutional capital and development finance.
For Ghana, mobilising long-term funding into productive agriculture could help address the financing requirements of large-scale infrastructure that individual poultry farmers may struggle to establish independently.
The expected creation of 12,000 direct jobs also positions the programme as a potential source of employment across farming, feed production, hatchery management, processing, warehousing, transportation and distribution.
Its benefits could extend to smallholder farmers and agricultural businesses supplying feed ingredients and other inputs, provided the project develops effective purchasing arrangements and opportunities for local suppliers.
Petra Trust Managing Director Kofi D. Fynn said the participation of the pension institutions reflected their willingness to direct long-term funds towards productive economic activities.
“We are ready to put our capital to work in support of the goals and objectives of this country.”
Petra Trust Managing Director, Kofi D.Fynn
UK-Ghana Cooperation and Implementation
The agreement also highlights opportunities to deepen commercial relations between Ghana and the United Kingdom through investment in agriculture and food processing.
The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, which hosted the initial signing in Accra in August, has played a catalytic role in bringing together government representatives, international investors and Ghanaian institutional partners around the initiative.
The collaboration reflects an investment model in which government provides a framework for industrial development while private-sector partners contribute capital and commercial expertise.
For Agrium Capital and its Ghanaian partners, the next stages will be important in translating the agreement into an operational production system. These include advancing technical preparations, establishing the necessary investment arrangements and developing the infrastructure required to support production across the value chain.
Successful implementation will also require attention to feed costs, animal health, biosecurity, processing standards, reliable electricity, cold storage and distribution. These factors will influence the project’s ability to deliver consistent supplies and compete with imported poultry products.
The programme’s longer-term significance will ultimately be measured by its contribution to domestic production, employment, agricultural linkages and reduced pressure on foreign exchange.
If the investment achieves its stated production and employment targets, it could strengthen Ghana’s poultry industry while creating additional commercial opportunities for farmers, processors and service providers.
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