Ghana has signed a $270 million investment agreement with UK-based agrifood firm Agrium Capital to expand local poultry production, cut reliance on imports and create 12,000 direct jobs. The deal was signed in London with Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme (24H+) as an addendum to heads of terms agreed in August.

The project aims to tackle Ghana’s annual poultry import bill of about $400 million by raising domestic output and strengthening the full value chain. In its first phase, the integrated scheme will produce 20,000 tonnes of dressed broiler products each year, with scope to reach 50,000 tonnes later.

Investment will cover feed milling, breeding, hatcheries, broiler farming, processing, cold-chain logistics and distribution. By linking these stages under one platform, the project seeks to improve efficiency and make more locally produced chicken available.

Presidential Adviser on the 24H+ Programme, Augustus Goosie Tanoh, said the signing moves the plan from investor talks to commercial delivery. Domestic institutions including Petra Trust, Axis Pension Trust and Ghana EXIM Bank witnessed the agreement, which pairs UK private capital with Ghanaian pension funds. The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change has given catalytic support.

The initiative is expected to generate work in farming, processing, transport and distribution while supporting food security goals by reducing dependence on imported chicken.