Accra, July 8, GNA – At dawn in a bustling Accra neighbourhood, a food vendor arranges boiled eggs on a tray as the first wave of commuters gathers. The routine is familiar – drivers, traders and office workers pause briefly for kosua ne mako, a simple meal of sliced egg and pepper that fuels the start of their day. Coins exchange hands, eggs are peeled in seconds, and the pace of the city continues.
For many, it is just breakfast – affordable, reliable, and comforting. But behind that everyday staple lies a question rarely considered: what kind of life did the hen that laid that egg live? In the rush of daily life, the connection between the plate and the production system is often invisible. Yet it is this unseen reality that is increasingly drawing attention within Ghana’s poultry industry.
Hen Welfare, Cage-Free Alternatives & the Global Shift
Battery cage systems, which dominate commercial egg production in Ghana, are designed for the efficiency of keeping hens in smaller spaces. Rows of wire cages stacked in tiers house multiple hens in extremely confined spaces – sometimes each bird has less room than an A4 sheet of paper.
While this system has enabled high levels of production, it comes at a cost to society. The cramped conditions prevent hens from performing natural behaviours such as spreading their wings, perching, nesting or dust bathing. The consequences are both physical and psychological, including injuries like broken bones and foot lesions, as well as stress caused by prolonged confinement.
These conditions fall short of the internationally recognised “Five Freedoms” of animal welfare, which emphasise that animals should be free from pain, discomfort and distress, and able to express natural behaviour.
At the same time, demand for poultry products in Ghana is rising sharply. According to data cited in the article, per capita poultry consumption increased from 5.5 kilogrammes in 2016 to 13.7 kilogrammes in 2021, reflecting both population growth and changing dietary preferences.
Alongside this growth, consumer awareness is gradually evolving. Evidence indicates that 80.3 per cent of surveyed Ghanaians support egg labelling systems, while 68.2 per cent say such labels would influence their purchasing decisions.
This signals a broader shift. Increasingly, consumers are not only interested in the availability and price of food, but also in how it is produced. The story behind the product is becoming as important as the product itself.
Globally, this shift is already reshaping the poultry industry. Governments across Europe, the Americas and parts of Asia are phasing out battery cages, while hundreds of multinational food companies have committed to sourcing only cage-free eggs.
In some countries, the transition is complete. Sweden, for instance, has reached 100 per cent cage-free egg production as of 2025, marking a significant milestone in animal welfare reform.
These developments are not merely ethical; they are economic. Markets that prioritise animal welfare are increasingly setting the standards for trade. For Ghana, which seeks to strengthen its agricultural exports and reduce dependence on imports, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity.
Cage-free systems offer a practical alternative. In these systems, hens are provided with space to move freely and facilities that enable natural behaviours – such as perches for roosting, nests for laying eggs and littered floors for scratching and dust bathing.
The benefits extend beyond welfare. Healthier, less stressed birds tend to have stronger immunity, reducing disease rates and the need for routine medication. For farmers, this can translate into more consistent production, fewer losses and improved long-term returns.
For businesses along the value chain, the implications are significant. Food companies and retailers can build consumer trust through transparent sourcing practices, while hotels and restaurants- particularly those serving international clientele – can align with global expectations of ethical procurement.
Major global brands, including Yum! Brands, Nestlé and Unilever, have already made public commitments to cage-free sourcing, highlighting the direction in which the industry is moving.
For Ghana’s hospitality sector, where reputation and quality are key, adopting such standards could enhance competitiveness and appeal to a growing segment of ethically conscious consumers and international guests.
Ultimately, the issue of hen welfare is not only about the treatment of animals; it is about the future of Ghana’s poultry industry. As global markets continue to evolve, production systems that do not meet emerging standards risk being left behind.
Aligning with these changes could position Ghana as a competitive player in the global food economy, opening new opportunities for export and investment while strengthening domestic production.
The egg on the breakfast plate may appear ordinary, but it represents a much larger system – one that connects farmers, businesses, consumers and global markets. Improving the conditions under which hens are raised is not merely an ethical consideration; it is a strategic investment in sustainability, credibility and growth.
As the morning rush in Accra continues and another plate of kosua ne mako is served, the question lingers quietly in the background: in the future, what story will that egg tell about how it was produced?
GNA
Edited by Beatrice Asamani Savage
The writer is the Senior Communications Lead at the Animal Welfare League