The inability to export eggs to neighbouring countries, particularly Burkina Faso, is worsening Ghana’s ongoing egg glut, the National President of the Poultry Farmers Association of Ghana, Mr. George Dasaah, has said.
In an interview with The High Street Journal, Mr. Dasaah explained that cross-border trade, which has traditionally served as a key outlet for surplus eggs, had stalled following restrictions and seizures by authorities in neighbouring markets.
He noted that market women, who form a critical link in the poultry value chain, have for years purchased eggs from local farmers and transported them to countries such as Burkina Faso to meet demand.
However, recent developments have disrupted that flow.
“Our market women used to export eggs to neighbouring countries like Burkina Faso. But recently, consignments sent there were seized and some destroyed,” he said.
According to him, authorities in Burkina Faso justified the seizures by alleging the presence of bird flu in Ghana, a claim he strongly refuted.
“The understanding we got is that they are saying there is bird flu in Ghana, which is not the case. As we speak, there is no bird flu in the country,” he stressed.
Mr. Dasaah revealed that the Association had formally engaged the Ministry of Trade to address the situation, urging government to work with veterinary authorities to correct the narrative and restore confidence in Ghana’s poultry exports.
“We have written to the Minister of Trade to engage with us, and also liaise with the Veterinary Services Department to reach out to their counterparts in Burkina Faso to clarify that Ghana is free from bird flu,” he said.
The export challenges have had a ripple effect on the domestic market, significantly reducing demand and leaving farmers with large volumes of unsold eggs.
He explained that when traders are unable to export, they also stop buying from farmers, leading to a backlog of stock at the farm level.
“If they cannot go, it means they will not buy from us. And if they are not buying, then the eggs will be sitting there,” he said.
The situation is particularly critical given the perishable nature of eggs and prevailing high temperatures, which accelerate spoilage.
“Eggs are perishable. Within two to three weeks, especially under the current heat, they begin to go bad if they are not sold,” he added.
Mr. Dasaah acknowledged that while informal export channels may still exist, there is currently no clear indication that large-scale exports to Burkina Faso have resumed.
“I cannot tell whether exports are ongoing now. But what we know is that one of the major trips led to seizure and destruction, and that has affected the confidence of traders,” he said.
Beyond Burkina Faso, he noted that Côte d’Ivoire presents limited opportunity for Ghanaian exports due to its own significant egg production capacity, further narrowing external market options.
The export bottleneck, he said, has intensified financial pressure on poultry farmers, who depend on egg sales to sustain operations, particularly the purchase of feed.
“Egg sales are what farmers rely on to buy feed. If the money is not coming, it becomes difficult to feed the birds, yet they continue to produce,” he explained.
He warned that prolonged disruption could lead to reduced production, as farmers struggle to maintain feeding regimes, ultimately affecting the sector’s sustainability.
While domestic interventions such as increased patronage by schools and public institutions are being explored, Mr. Dasaah stressed that restoring export channels remains critical to stabilising the market.
“Exports have always helped to absorb excess production. If that avenue is blocked, it creates serious challenges for farmers,” he said.
He called for urgent diplomatic and technical engagement between Ghana and its neighbours to resolve the impasse and prevent further losses within the poultry industry.
