Government will launch the Nkokɔ Nkitinkiti project in October, targeting 100% local chicken production within three years to eliminate Ghana’s dependence on imported poultry.
Speaking during a visit to the National Service Authority Poultry Farm at Papao in Accra, President John Dramani Mahama explained that the project will operate through a three-tier production system designed to involve large-scale producers, medium-scale operators, and household entrepreneurs across the country.
According to the President, large-scale producers will receive about 4 million day-old chicks, while medium-scale producers will get approximately 3 million day-old chicks.
He noted that the third tier will focus on household producers and young entrepreneurs who sign up for the programme.
“Every household, every young entrepreneur who signs up, you identify your site, your chicken house and then we’ll give you the day-old chicks and we’ll also supply you with the feed. We’ll also vaccinate the day-old chicks for you,” he said.
The President explained that participants will only need to feed the chickens and allow them to grow, after which the government will purchase all mature chickens and provide the next set of day-old chicks.
He said this guaranteed buyback system ensures continuous production cycles and income for farmers.
The President revealed that his administration is building processing plants in different parts of the country, with the first processing plant currently going through procurement procedures. He said once the procurement authority approves it, construction will commence immediately.
According to the President, after purchasing chickens from farmers, the government will process them at these facilities and package them with the Nkokɔ Nkitinkiti brand before supplying them directly to supermarkets and cold store owners.
He explained that this approach will help cut Ghana’s huge poultry import bill.
“We should be able to produce enough poultry to feed the whole of Ghana. Once the Nkokɔ Nkitinkiti project takes off, we believe that in three years, we’ll be producing almost 100% of the chicken that we eat in Ghana ourselves,” he stated.
The President said this will enable Ghana to stop importing frozen chicken from abroad, noting concerns about the quality and production methods of imported poultry.
He explained that many countries use genetically modified chickens and inject them with hormones, which his government wants to avoid.
“We want fresh Ghanaian grown chicken, so that our people can live a healthy life,” Mahama said. He added that Ghana does not know how imported chickens were raised in their countries of origin.
According to him, the project builds on the impressive work being done by the National Service Authority, which operates a poultry farm in Papao with 70,000 birds capacity, targeting 100,000 birds.
He said the government will develop this into a center of excellence that will serve as both a producing farm, training facility, and research center.
The President revealed that he has discussed the project with the Finance Minister and will ensure adequate funding for processing plants, hostels, vehicles, and solar power installations to support the programme.
He said the government will make this a model farm that will attract visitors from other West African countries.
President Mahama noted that the project connects with other agricultural initiatives, including maize farming that can be processed into chicken feed.
He explained that the government will help establish a feed mill for the National Service Authority to produce feed for the chickens.
The President said the programme also includes vegetable farming components producing tomatoes and other crops, creating an integrated agricultural value chain.
He announced plans to visit maize farms operated by the National Service Authority in October to assess their contribution to the overall food security agenda.
Richard Aniagyei, ISD
