Kumasi — The Ghana National Association of Poultry Farmers has proposed a meeting with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development for the purpose of negotiating "an egg-a-day" project under the School Feeding programme.

The President of the Association, Mr. Kwadwo Asante, has indicated that the "one egg per child" project proposal would help revive the collapsing poultry industry in the country.

He noted that the inclusion of one egg in the meals served for pupils under the school feeding programme would also go to right the wrong perception by people about the eating of eggs.

He emphasised the capability of members of the union to meet the demand of eggs for the project once the Ministry accepts the proposal, saying the largest poultry farmer in Ghana alone produces 5,000 crates of eggs in a day.

Mr. Asante said the programme would be implemented in five regions, namely, Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Greater Accra, Western and Eastern, if the proposal is considered by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.

Ghana's poultry industry has been facing some challenges over the years, due to the influx of cheap foreign frozen products onto the Ghanaian market, and it is the hope of Mr. Asante that a favourable response by the Ministry of Local Government to their request would help give the industry a big boost.

According to him, the local poultry industry is faced with the high cost of production in the areas of labour, electricity and feeding, besides competition with cheap foreign frozen poultry products, which challenges have led to the collapse of most of the once-vibrant poultry farms in the country.

Following this, the Ghana National Association of Poultry Farmers has, over the years, been advocating in vain, a ban or limitation on the tonnes of frozen poultry products imported into the country.

Meanwhile, Mr. William Awuku Ahiadormey, a nutritionist, has encouraged Ghanaians, especially children, to consume more eggs, because it had a strong iodine and mineral content.

He disabused the fears of some people on the frequent consumption of eggs, saying eggs had the highest quality of protein and vitamins, and it was very healthy for the body, especially growing children.