Dzifa Gomashie speaks at National Poultry Day celebration

Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has called on stakeholders in Ghana’s agriculture sector to rethink their approach to poultry production.

Speaking during the 5th National Poultry Day celebration in Accra, she questioned why the country continues to spend millions of dollars importing poultry when that same money could be used to build and strengthen local poultry systems.

“If we’re spending millions of dollars to import poultry, then surely that same amount can be invested to strengthen our systems here,” she said.

The Minister’s comments set the tone for the day’s celebration, which focused on promoting innovation, local solutions, and stronger economic resilience in the poultry sector.

The event brought together farmers, chefs, policymakers, civil society groups, and cultural leaders to push for greater self-reliance and reduce Ghana’s dependence on poultry imports.

Abla Dzifa Gomashie stressed that poultry should not be viewed only from an agricultural point of view, but also as an important part of Ghana’s culture and national identity.

She encouraged Ghanaians to adopt poultry farming not just as a business, but as a way of life that supports food security and preserves traditional Ghanaian dishes.

“Why should Ghana continue importing poultry feed when local alternatives can be developed?” she asked.

She called on research institutions, entrepreneurs, and innovators to come together and create local solutions for poultry feed, which remains a major challenge in the industry.

Also speaking at the event, Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, John Setor Dumelo, urged Ghanaians to take poultry farming seriously, no matter the scale.

“This is the best time to be a poultry farmer in Ghana. Even if you start with just ten birds in your backyard, you are reducing imports and feeding your family,” Dumelo said.

One of the key highlights of the celebration was the launch of the “Nkunkor Nkiti Nkiti” project, an initiative aimed at encouraging households to start small-scale poultry farming as both a lifestyle choice and a patriotic contribution to national development.

To support this initiative, live birds were distributed to participants and students from selected Senior High Schools, including Accra Academy, PRESEC Legon, and Achimota School.

The event also featured food exhibitions and cooking competitions that highlighted the richness of Ghana’s poultry-based meals.