Information gathered by IGOGHANA has it that more people in Ghana consume frozen foods especially, imported chicken as compared to the other ones despite the high taxes and rise in forex on the importation.
A visit to the Takoradi temporary market indicated that imported chicken was more affordable compared to livestock as prices for imported chicken stood at GHc 12.00 for the thigh of the hard one and GHc 10.00 for the soft one per pound.
Meanwhile, the prices for a live chicken on the market range from GHc 50.00 to GHc 70.00.
This development has been attributed to the hike in demand for the imported product because it was relatively cheaper compared to livestock.
Some consumers who spoke to IGOGHANA said they do not have to go through all the hurdles in preparing the imported chicken which saves them time.
According to them, one can hardly get enough meat from the livestock apart from the wings and thighs, however with a pound of the imported ones, they get the part they want at an affordable price.
To them, the prices for the imported chicken were budget friendly for all individuals saying, “It is affordable and enough for the family. Unlike the live chicken, we don’t get enough meat. It’s very helpful to us the mothers because you can use it at any time.”
The situation according to local poultry farmers was impacting heavily on their business in the Metropolis due to the demand for the imported product on the local market.
For instance, records show that Ghana’s poultry imports reached 360,000 tonnes in 2021 from 295,196 tonnes in 2020 and 258,997 tonnes in 2019.
Meanwhile, some cold store operators in the Metropolis have complained about the numerous taxes imposed on the importation of the product coupled with the rise in forex.
Recently, Hannah Newman (HANE) Cold Store, one of the oldest and biggest Cold Stores in Takoradi which employed over 80 workers was shut down due to the inability to pay taxes.
An insider who spoke on anonymity hinted that the machines used in the operation of the cold store have been taken out and therefore, did not believe the store was getting back soon.
Traders, food vendors, taxi drivers and pharmacy shop operators in that area have lamented the toll the closure of the cold store was having on their operations since most of them depended on the cold store for survival.
