She is of the view that Ghanaians do not value freebies and urged the officers in charge of the “Nkok) nketenkete” programme to have a second look at the number of chicks given to one person.

Under phase one of the programme, each beneficiary will receive 50 chicks, feed support, and technical guidance to ensure the survival and sustainability of the project.

“Reduce the ” nkoko” from 50 to 20 to each person to ensure beneficiary’s seriousness or commitment,” she said.

The outspoken female politician also enumerated plans to safeguard the “Nkoko nkitinkiti” from potential saboteurs, adding that a strict monitoring and evaluation framework should be implemented to protect the programme.

The programme, which is not just to reduce unemployment rate in the country but a policy to curb the heavy importation of frozen chicken.

Over three million poultry birds will be distributed across the country.

It is designed to make poultry production attractive and affordable to every Ghanaian, in homes, in school’s and communities.

Beneficiaries will receive birds, feed, and other supplies to start their poultry businesses.

The project, which falls under the broader Feed Ghana Programme, aims to boost local poultry production, create jobs, and reduce Ghana’s reliance on imported chicken.

Speaking at the launch, National Feed Ghana Coordinator Bright Kwadzo Demordzi explained that the initiative will provide selected beneficiaries with free birds and feed to start or expand their poultry farms.

He noted that interested individuals must visit their District Agriculture Directorate to pick up registration forms before officials conduct inspections to verify eligibility.

“Each constituency across the country will benefit from about 10,000 birds,” Mr Demordzi said. “However, the selection of beneficiaries depends on the Animal Production Directorate. They will visit your environment to see where you intend to keep the birds because that is very important. If there’s no space, it means you are not qualified.”

He stressed that the goal is to ensure recipients can properly care for the birds.

“If you are in an environment that is comfortable for the birds, then you will be given. It’s not just about giving out birds; you must be able to take care of them to benefit. These birds are not to be returned — once given, they are yours forever,” he added.

According to Mr Demordzi, both broilers and layers will be distributed under the project. The Ministry of Food and Agriculture will also provide ongoing management and technical support to beneficiaries.

He advised potential applicants without suitable spaces to wait until they are ready, adding: “You have to go to the district director of agriculture in your area. Their officers will inspect your environment, and if it’s conducive for the birds, you’ll be given a form to fill out. The form helps us record your details and location so that if there are problems with the birds, we can locate you and offer technical advice.”

Earlier this year, President Mahama announced that the first processing plant under the Nkoko Nkitinkiti project was in the procurement stage. Mr Demordzi has now confirmed that the procurement phase has been completed, paving the way for the President to officially cut the sod for construction to begin.

Speaking in an interview on Monday, November 10, 2025, Mr. Opoku said the ministry was dealing with a large surplus of eggs this year, which is likely to extend into 2026.

He said the government had already rolled out several interventions to manage the situation and sustain production.

According to him, an initial GH¢100 million provided to the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) for the purchase of staple grains had been fully utilised.

An additional GH¢100 million has since been released. He added that field assessments indicate that about GH¢500 million may be needed to clear the excess harvest and absorb the market supply.

“This is the first time in our history that the Government of Ghana has decided to intervene in the market to procure the essential food buffer for our nation,” Mr Opoku said.

He explained that under the Feed Ghana campaign, the “Nkoko Nkitinkiti” sub-programme is being implemented in three phases.

The first phase targets household and backyard poultry keepers, the second supports medium-scale farmers with between 1,000 and 3,000 birds, while the third phase assists about 50 established commercial producers.

Mr. Opoku said the success of the programme had led to mass participation, creating a temporary oversupply.

He noted that the release of 10 million birds into the market would help sustain production levels and stabilise supply chains.

The minister announced that a poultry processing centre would be set up at Dormaa under a public-private partnership to absorb increased output and expand domestic processing capacity.

“We are establishing, together with the private sector, a poultry processing centre at Dormaa to buy from farmers, process, and make the products available to the market,” he said.

He said the ministry was also linking soybean and maize producers with local feed processors to support domestic feed production and strengthen raw material supply chains.

He added that local hatcheries were being developed with private partners to reduce reliance on imported day-old chicks.

“We are working with the private sector to establish a hatchery. Very soon you will hear about it,” he said.

Mr. Opoku clarified that under a presidential directive, the Ministry of Education, not NAFCO, would handle the procurement of surplus eggs for the school-feeding programme.

“The President has directed the Ministry of Education to ensure that the glut is cleared. They will determine the agency they will use to procure the eggs,” he said.

The minister’s remarks came ahead of the expected launch of the Nkoko Nkitinkiti initiative by President John Dramani Mahama later this week in Kumasi.

The event will mark the formal rollout of the nationwide poultry acceleration programme from backyard to commercial production.

Mr. Opoku said the interventions were designed to protect farmers and sustain agricultural investment.

“If you don’t act and we allow this food to go to waste, it is a huge disincentive and people will be discouraged from investing further in agriculture,” he said.

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According to the Headmaster, Mr. Osei Antwi Robert, the school has allocated one acre of land for the project, with preparations already underway to accommodate 1,000 birds under the programme.

Speaking to Adom News, Mr. Antwi explained that the poultry project will serve as a practical training and research centre, enhancing students’ hands-on knowledge in poultry farming.

He added that the initiative will help the school reduce costs on eggs and chicken for student meals, as they will now produce their own. Surplus birds will be sold to the public, with proceeds reinvested into school development projects.

Mr. Antwi further emphasized that the project will lessen the financial burden on the government, as schools like Kukuom Agric SHS become more self-reliant in sourcing poultry products.

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According to the Deputy Minister, this distribution will mark the first phase of the programme, under which the government plans to distribute three million birds over time to beneficiaries and farmers.

He added that the distribution will include feed for selected participants to ensure the successful rearing of the birds.

Speaking on PM Express Business Edition with George Wiafe, recorded in Washington D.C., USA, on the sidelines of the annual IMF/World Bank Meetings, Mr Dumelo stated that “these birds will also be vaccinated, so beneficiaries can immediately begin their poultry farming.”

He further noted that the initiative will support a wide range of producers, from smallholders to household farmers.

Distribution Plan

Explaining the rollout plan, the Deputy Minister said the government is targeting the distribution of about 10,000 birds per constituency, which could see around 200 households receiving approximately 50 birds each.

He emphasized that the government will closely monitor the process to ensure the birds reach the intended beneficiaries.

“We believe that when people receive these birds, they can rear them in their backyards and make some money for themselves. This will go a long way to boost local production,” Mr Dumelo said.

He added that the government is committed to ensuring a transparent selection process that prioritizes individuals who are genuinely willing and able to make the programme successful.

“We should see this as an initial investment by the government. When the birds are ready and you sell them, use that money to buy new ones and continue,” he advised.

John Dumelo further stressed that the programme would target people with some knowledge of poultry farming, “because we don’t want these birds to die,” he said.

Reasons for the Programme

There have been concerns that the initiative could hurt existing poultry businesses. However, the Deputy Minister dismissed these fears, insisting that the programme is designed to support and strengthen local poultry production rather than compete with it.

“The government is not happy about the high import rate of chicken for consumption in Ghana, given its impact on foreign exchange and local employment. That is why we are implementing this programme,” Mr Dumelo explained.

He stated that the government aims to significantly increase domestic poultry production and reduce dependence on imports, which currently cost the country over $300 million annually.

Mr Dumelo added that “the programme could be a turning point for Ghana’s poultry industry, as it seeks to create jobs for rural youth and women, strengthen domestic feed and processing industries, and help stabilise prices in local markets.”

Food Security Concerns

The Deputy Minister also revealed that the government is collaborating with several agencies to ensure a consistent supply of food throughout the year.

This includes providing financial support to the National Food Buffer Stock Company to enable it to build sufficient reserves and manage stock effectively.

Mr Dumelo emphasized the need to move away from a system where food is abundant at certain times of the year and scarce at others, leading to fluctuating prices.

“The government is putting in place measures and initiatives to address post-harvest losses,” he assured.

He also noted that the Ministry is working closely with the Ministry of Youth and Sports on the implementation of the Youth in Agriculture programme, while encouraging other stakeholders to contribute to storage, processing, and value addition in food production.

“All these initiatives are aligned with our Feed Ghana programme, which aims to produce more food to feed ourselves and even export the surplus,” the Deputy Minister concluded.

Source: Joy Business

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The groundbreaking project aims to reduce Ghana’s reliance on imported poultry products with over 55,000 households expected to be roped into poultry production.

As the project is set for roll-out this month, the poultry farmers say efforts to hold meetings with the government on modalities for the project have failed.

Western Regional Vice Chairperson of the poultry farmers association, Francis Nsiah, is not enthused about the Food and Agriculture Ministry’s non-engagement.

Speaking on the sidelines of a five-day capacity-building workshop in the poultry sector, he urged the ministry to reconsider its strategy and adopt a more inclusive approach.

“We are the mother association of poultry farmers in the country, yet the government, through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, has failed to consult or involve us in discussions regarding the implementation plan and the selection of poultry farmers to scale up production,” he said.

The association believes their involvement would enhance the credibility, transparency, and overall efficiency of the program in reducing poultry imports.

The annual capacity building project, themed: “Bridging the Technology Transfer Gap for Poultry Experts and Consultants in Ghana,” brought together poultry experts, consultants, and industry stakeholders.

It aimed at bridging the technology transfer gap between academia and industry.

Some experts in the poultry industry are distraught over the absence of commercial breeding companies to support poultry production in Ghana.

Head of the Department of Animal Science at the KNUST, Professor Kwaku Adomako notes that the establishment of commercial breeding companies is crucial to reducing the country’s high dependence on poultry meat imports.

“It is high time we came together as a nation to address this challenge by creating the necessary synergies and investment incentives for local firms to establish at least one commercial breeding company—not only to serve Ghana but the broader sub-Saharan African region,” he said.

While acknowledging the significant capital investment required for their establishment, Prof. Adomako advocated for strategic measures and enabling the environment to empower local entrepreneurs and experts to spearhead the commercialization of the local breed.

He further reiterated concerns about the continued importation of poultry breeds which are usually unsuited to Ghana’s climate, often leading to high mortality rates among chicks.

“These imported breeds are typically developed for temperate climates and may not thrive under local environmental conditions,” he noted.

He urged both public and private sector players to prioritize local solutions, highlighting a robust domestic breeding capacity is essential to achieving food security and reducing the poultry sector’s reliance on imports.