Ghana imports more milk and other dairy products yearly than it produces. Even for what is processed domestically, almost all are exclusively made from imported milk powder. It is in this regard that this study was initiated to analyze the barriers to the local dairy sector’s competitiveness employing both primary and secondary data sources. For the collection of primary data, in-depth interviews were conducted with key informants. A total of 34 actors along the local fresh milk and milk powder value chains were sampled and interviewed and the data descriptively analyzed. Results show that the local milk value chain of Ghana is informal, not developed and with minimal value addition to fresh milk compared to the value chain of imported milk powder. Moreover, local products sold on the Ghanaian markets do not undergo any form of safety tests and have not been approved by the regulatory and standard authorities. Further, a host of challenges along the local milk value chain are identified as factors limiting its competitiveness. Nevertheless, a window of opportunity for developing the local milk value chain is presented considering the growing demand for fresh milk-based dairy products in Ghana as well as increasing international trade to integrate into the Global Value Chain.