BTA Admin 
Ghanaians could pay more for chicken and other poultry products this Christmas, with the Greater Accra Poultry Farmers Association projecting a price increase of at least 15% due to rising feed costs and expensive imported production inputs.
The association’s Chief Executive, Mohammed Ali, says the rising cost of maize, soya and other ingredients used in poultry feed, alongside higher freight charges, is putting pressure on local farmers and could lead to higher prices for consumers during the festive season.
Speaking to Joy Business during a World Egg Day outreach programme at schools in Dansoman, Mr Ali warned that price adjustments were likely before Christmas.
“Maybe not less than 15 per cent; we must see some price change,” he said.
Why poultry prices could rise
According to the association, the heavy reliance on imported feed ingredients exposes Ghanaian poultry farmers to international price movements and rising transportation costs.
Feed is a major production expense for poultry farmers. When the cost of producing birds increases, farmers may pass some of those expenses on to consumers through higher prices for chicken and other poultry products.
Mr Ali called on the government to support increased local production of maize and soya to reduce the industry’s dependence on imported inputs.
“When we are able to have an abundance locally, the feed price will surely come down. But without them, we can’t do anything about poultry feed,” he said.
Greater local production of these crops, he argued, could help lower feed costs and ease pressure on poultry prices.
Farmers want tighter control of egg prices
Beyond the expected Christmas price increases, the association is also concerned about the gap between the prices farmers receive for eggs and the amounts consumers pay at retail outlets.
Mr Ali said farm-gate prices for a crate of eggs currently range between GH¢40 and GH¢45, but some retailers allegedly add as much as GH¢20 before selling to consumers.
He argued that retail prices should not exceed GH¢50 per crate.
“We don’t expect an egg to go beyond 50 cedis. Take or leave,” he stressed.
The association is calling on the Ministry of Trade and Agribusiness to introduce measures to address what it considers excessive price differences and improve discipline in the egg market.
However, the GH¢50 figure represents the association’s preferred price ceiling, not a confirmed government-enforced limit.
Association distributes more than 100,000 eggs to schools
The comments came during the association’s World Egg Day activities, which included outreach programmes across five clusters of schools in the Dansoman area.
Mr Ali said the initiative was designed to educate pupils about the nutritional benefits of eggs and encourage families to include them regularly in children’s meals.
The association distributed more than 100,000 eggs to schools as part of the exercise.
He said early education on nutrition could help children develop healthy eating habits.
Farmers call for stronger support for local poultry production
The association also urged stakeholders to strengthen the implementation of the Nkokor Nkitinkiti initiative, arguing that support should reach farmers whose production volumes can make a meaningful difference to national supply.
Mr Ali suggested that directing more assistance towards larger-scale poultry farmers could have a greater impact on market supply and prices.
With Christmas approaching, the expected increase could put additional pressure on household food budgets if production costs continue to rise. Greater local production of feed ingredients and more effective support for poultry farmers could help reduce some of that pressure over time.
For now, the projected 15% increase is a warning from the association rather than a confirmed price adjustment across all poultry products and retailers.
