His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama has broken ground for the construction of a poultry, meat, and feed processing factory at Bechem in the Ahafo Region.
This project forms part of his flagship agricultural programme, NkokoNkitinkiti, and the facility is expected to be completed within 12 months of its commencement.
Proposed plan for the factory
The Ahafo regional Minister; Hon. Charity Gardiner in a welcome address expressed a profound gratitude to the President for his visionary leadership and continued effort in ensuring that the Region is endowed with development and socio-economic opportunities that benefit its citizens. She explained that the Flagship project which was inaugurated in Kumasi has led to this significant milestone of breaking ground for a modern poultry, meat, and feed processing factory at Bechem in the Tano South Municipality.
Hon. Gardiner thanked the Minister of Agriculture; Hon Eric Opoku and Hon. Collins Dauda for their relentless effort of lobbying for development to the region and urged the people of Ahafo to make good use of the project, adding that the project’s success would be a testament to government’s commitment to the region’s development.
Addressing the gathering, Minster for Food and Agriculture Hon. Eric Opoku revealed that to ensure value-added production, the factory, which has a daily capacity of processing 3,000 birds, will also have a component installed to process waste products from the factory into fertilizers and feed for fisheries and poultry, thereby maximizing the factory’s economic benefits.
Hon. Opoku further announced that under this same initiative the government will soon launch a project to provide selected poultry farmers with 80,000 birds to rear and supply the factory, to ensure a stable and consistent supply of raw materials. He described this initiative as one of its kind expected to create jobs, reduce Ghana’s reliance on poultry import and make prices of poultry affordable. He commended the President’s efforts to boost the agriculture sector and called on the people to rally behind this noble initiative.
Hon. Eric Opoku Minster for Food and Agriculture addressing the gathering
Hon. Eric Opoku, stated that the facility will have a component that will treat waste from the factory into feed for fisheries and poultry, and fertilizers for farmers. The project is expected to create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and reduce Ghana’s reliance on imported poultry products.
Hon. Charles Asiedu, Member of Parliament for Tano South, in his speech highlighted the significant achievements of the NDC government in the constituency since assuming office in less than a year.
He mentioned some major projects such as the establishment of a MASLOC office, Youth Employment Agency office, and a D.V.L.A office as evidence of the government’s commitment to development.
Hon. Charles Asiedu, Member of Parliament for Tano South speaking at the programme
Hon. Asiedu also expressed his gratitude to the President for the groundbreaking ceremony of the Bechem Poultry, Meat, and Feed Processing Factory, describing it as a major infrastructure project that will benefit the people of Tano South. He thanked the President and acknowledged the support of Hon. Charity Gardner Regional Minster Ahafo, Hon. Collins Dauda, Hon. Eric Opoku, Minister for food and Agriculture and Hon. Dr. Hanna Louisa Bisiw Kote, stating that with their support, the people of Tano South should expect more development projects
Addressing farmers, industry players, traditional leaders, and community members, His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama said he was proud to begin a project that represents not just an industrial investment but “a decisive national step forward towards building an integrated and self-sustaining poultry value chain.” He added that the project, known as the Bechem Poultry, Meat and Feed Processing Facility, is part of the Feed Ghana initiative, an ambitious economic reset strategy aimed at boosting food security, reducing dependence on imports, enhancing agro-industrial competitiveness, and generating jobs for young people in the country.
His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama delivering his keynote address
President Mahama stressed that the facility is strategically designed to respond to long-standing structural weaknesses in Ghana’s poultry sector, a sector that has cost the nation “between $300 and $400 million annually on poultry imports for decades.” He noted that under the Reset Ghana and Feed Ghana programmes, the government has adopted “a bold, integrated, and end-to-end value chain approach” that strengthens production, lowers feed costs, expands processing capacity, builds skills across the sector, and establishes reliable markets for smallholder and commercial farmers.
He emphasized that “the facility in Bechem directly addresses these structural constraints,” adding that it is one of several planned agro-industrial hubs intended to reposition Ghana as a competitive poultry and livestock producer in West Africa.
His Excellency the President described the facility as a modern agro-industrial ecosystem built to power the entire poultry value chain. It will host a feed processing plant capable of producing high-quality and affordable feed, a hygienic meat processing unit designed to meet both domestic and international standards, cold storage and dry warehouses to safeguard product quality, as well as dormitories and residential facilities to support training programmes. A training academy will serve young farmers and technical personnel, creating a pipeline of skilled workers for the sector.
The President further announced that the Bechem facility forms part of a wider series of processing plants planned nationwide to serve as a take-off points for the Nkoko Nkitinkiti project, a national initiative aimed at expanding domestic poultry production.
This expansion is backed by several complementary programmes under the Feed Ghana Poultry Transformation Plan, such as poultry farmer table projects supporting 50 commercial farmers and 500 SMEs, the Nkoko Nkitinkiti Backyard Poultry Project targeting three million birds for women and youth, and the Kroela Project, which will improve access to hardy dual-purpose breeds for households.
Other interventions include revamping hatcheries, breeder farms, and veterinary services across all regions to build what President Mahama called “a complete national poultry ecosystem, restoring Ghana’s leadership in poultry production in West Africa.”
Highlighting the socio-economic benefits of the Bechem project, the President made a promise to create thousands of jobs across the value chain, from production and processing to packaging, distribution, and retailing. Farmers will have access to affordable feed, reducing their production costs and enhancing their competitiveness. Processing units will curb post-production losses while ensuring food safety and consumer access.
President Mahama said the facility’s continuous operation model demonstrates what a fully functional 24-hour economy looks like in practical terms. He commended the Minister for Food and Agriculture and his team for their professionalism and expressed gratitude to the District Assembly, Regional Coordinating Council, development partners, private investors, farmers’ cooperatives, and community stakeholders for their support and commitment. He stated that this places the Bechem facility at a strategic intersection, making it a “central processing and training corridor” that will support surrounding districts and deepen regional integration in poultry and livestock value chains.
He cautioned that the success of the project depends on “discipline, transparency, effective management, and strong community support,” urging all partners to work collaboratively to make the facility a national model for agro-industrial advancement.
Ending his remarks, President Mahama said the groundbreaking stands as a powerful symbol of Ghana’s determination to chart a path towards agricultural transformation and economic self-reliance.
He then officially broke ground for the construction of the Bechem Poultry, Meat and Feed Processing Facility.
In a brief but heartfelt address Akwamuhene and Ag. President of Bechem Traditional Council Nana Opanwomasuo Boampong Bekoe lauded H.E. John Dramani Mahama for his visionary leadership, noting that the factory, when completed, will serve as a lasting legacy, bringing employment to the youth and development to Bechem. He used the occasion to respectfully request that the President consider a few key developmental projects, including the expansion of the Bechem Technical Institute, upgrading of the TVET School’s boarding facilities, establishment of a university in Bechem, and inclusion of Bechem in the Farmers Service Centers project.
Nana Boampong Bekoe concluded by offering a prayer for the President, wishing him a long life and prosperity for Bechem and Ghana.