National Chicken Festival Highlights Ghana’s Growing Poultry Scene
The National Chicken Festival has kicked off on Osu Oxford Street, turning Ghana’s capital into a lively hub of poultry innovation and community engagement. The event, organized to celebrate and promote locally grown chicken, brings together farmers, processors, traders, and consumers for a weekend of education, tastings, and business networking. With a focus on sustainability, smallholder support, and quality control, the festival aims to strengthen Ghana’s poultry value chain from farm to fork.
Key Voices: Industry Leaders Share Insights
Speaking at the festival, Mr. Eric Twum Ansah, Finance Consultant for the Directorate, offered insights into the financial and policy underpinnings that support the sector. He highlighted government and development partner programs designed to bolster poultry farming, improve feed quality, and expand cold-chain infrastructure, all essential for reducing post-harvest losses and increasing household access to affordable, nutritious chicken.
Industry experts, extension officers, and local farmers also took the stage to discuss best practices in hybrid breeding, disease control, and feed formulation. Attendees gained practical knowledge on cost management, risk mitigation, and the economics of scale for smallholder producers. The festival has become a platform where producers can learn about modern farming methods while preserving traditional practices that farmers say give local poultry its distinctive flavor and texture.
Festival Features: Education, Tastings, and Market Access
Visitors can participate in poultry husbandry demonstrations, including vaccination schedules, housing design, and biosecurity measures that help prevent disease outbreaks. Cooking demonstrations highlight how locally raised chicken can be prepared into a variety of affordable, culturally meaningful dishes, showcasing the versatility of Ghanaian poultry products.
stalls line Osu Oxford Street, offering a direct link between farmers and consumers. Local farmers have an opportunity to showcase healthy birds, roasters, and value-added products such as marinated cuts, sausages, and ready-to-cook meals. The market focus supports price transparency and consumer trust, essential factors for increasing demand in a market that has historically relied on informal channels.
Why Local Poultry Matters for Ghana
Promoting locally grown chicken is about more than taste and nutrition. A robust poultry sector can fuel economic growth, create jobs, and reduce dependence on imported meat. By encouraging smallholders to adopt scalable practices, the festival helps secure livelihoods for rural communities while delivering affordable protein to urban consumers. The event also aligns with national goals to improve food security and build resilient agricultural systems amid climate and market volatility.
What Attendees Should Expect
As the festival unfolds, attendees should expect a vibrant mix of exhibits, live demonstrations, and opportunities for networking with suppliers, farmers, and processors. For families, there are kid-friendly activities and educational sessions about nutrition. For aspiring entrepreneurs, there are sessions on financing, grant opportunities, and how to access phasing plans for expansion. The organizers emphasize inclusivity and equitable access to market opportunities for women and youth in farming, reflecting a broader push to diversify the agricultural economy.
Looking Ahead: A Sustainable Path for Ghana’s Poultry
Festival organizers hope the event catalyzes ongoing collaboration among stakeholders—farmers, veterinarians, food processors, and policymakers—to strengthen the scale, quality, and resilience of Ghana’s poultry sector. With continued support for local feed production, veterinary services, and cold-chain improvements, the country can further reduce costs, improve product quality, and increase consumer confidence in locally produced chicken.
