By Alex Ababio
Government Unveils Ambitious Poultry Initiative
The government has formally introduced the Nkoko Nketenkete Initiative, a household and backyard poultry-production scheme crafted to address the heart of Ghana’s food-security and inclusive-growth agenda.
Under the scheme, a total of three million birds will be dispersed across all 276 constituencies nationwide, aiming to support some 60,000 households. Each constituency will receive 10,000 birds, and each selected household will receive 50 birds, along with feed support and technical guidance to ensure project sustainability.
Anchor Farmers and Scale-Up Strategy
In addition to the grassroots distribution, the programme has designated 50 “anchor farmers”. These farmers will receive housing, logistical backing, and technical support, with each tasked to produce 80,000 birds—a combined total of four million birds, equivalent to 10,000 metric tonnes of chicken.
This dual-track approach (household level + anchor farmers) is designed to rebuild the poultry value chain from the ground up.
A National Movement, Not Just a Policy
At the launch event held at Jubilee Park in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, President John Dramani Mahama declared that the initiative is more than a government intervention; it is a national movement and a bold step towards restoring Ghana’s food self-sufficiency.
He said the programme is especially targeted at strengthening household resilience and creating sustainable livelihoods for thousands of Ghanaians — particularly women, youth, and vulnerable families.
Describing the initiative as a flagship component of the poultry-industry revitalisation programme, which forms part of the broader Feed Ghana Programme, he added:
“For far too long, Ghana’s poultry industry, which was once a lively contributor to rural incomes and national nutrition, faced structural bottlenecks.”
Structural Challenges of Ghana’s Poultry Sector
President Mahama identified key bottlenecks undermining the sector’s performance: high feed costs, limited access to improved breeds, inadequate processing capacity, and an over-reliance on imports. He noted that in 2023 alone, Ghana spent over US $350 million importing poultry products.
“We must, and we will, reverse this trend. The time has come for Ghana to reclaim her pride of producing, processing and consuming what we grow ourselves,” he said.
Three-Pronged Strategy to Restore Poultry Value Chain
He outlined that under the Feed Ghana Programme, the government is executing a three-pronged strategy to rebuild the poultry value chain from household level to commercial scale. Through the broader food-systems resilience initiative, 500 small and medium-scale poultry farmers across all regions will be supported to produce a further three million birds — to bridge the gap between large-scale farmers and community-based producers.
The breeds (pullets and cockerels) have been selected for resilience, adaptability and high productivity under Ghanaian conditions.
The President emphasised that the government is fully committed to protecting and revitalising the poultry industry.
Modern Processing Factory to Link Producers with Market
President Mahama announced that in the coming days he will cut the sod for work to begin on the construction of a modern poultry-processing factory in Bechem in the Bono Region, with procurement processes already underway.
Once operational, the facility will serve as a market for all small and medium-scale poultry producers in Bono, Ashanti and Bono East regions.
“Our long-term target is to increase Ghana’s poultry sufficiency from 12 per cent today to over 75 per cent by 2028,” he said.
Key measures in the pathway to this target include access to improved breeds, affordable feed formulation, establishment of farmer service centres, and expansion of veterinary and animal-health services.
Tackling Food Glut and Strengthening Demand
On the issue of recent food gluts across the country, President Mahama said the government has initially released US $100 million to the National Buffer Stock Company to purchase maize from farmers for storage, and an additional US $200 million to buy maize and rice from local producers.
He also directed school-feeding caterers to buy more eggs from the market and incorporate them into meals for pupils — a directive designed both to support poultry farmers’ incomes and prevent eggs from being wasted through lack of demand.
Import Dependence and the Need for Local Production
The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, explained that Ghana was not an importer of poultry products until around 1997-98, when imports stood at just 4,000 tonnes. By 2004, the figure had risen to 124,000 tonnes, and by 2022 to 324,000 tonnes.
He observed:
“Only 15,000 tonnes of the country’s poultry consumption are produced locally, representing 4.6 per cent, meaning over 95 per cent of the total tonnes are imported.”
He warned that continuous importation of chicken essentially exports jobs to other nations, with negative consequences for the Ghanaian economy. Citing India as an example, he noted that backyard poultry-production had helped raise their local poultry production to 37 per cent.
“Backyard poultry production is an essential tool for women’s empowerment, increasing food production towards achieving food security,” he said.
Investment Payoffs: More Than Just Chicken
Referring to a survey by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Minister Opoku pointed out that every dollar invested in food production yields approximately US $16 in returns.
Therefore, he said, the government’s investment in the roll-out of the Nkoko Nketenkete programme will not only increase food production but also strengthen the economy. He encouraged all Ghanaians to take advantage of the programme to boost local poultry production for national development, and assured that further beneficiary registration will follow.
Local Support and Youth-Jobs Promise
Speaking on behalf of the traditional authority, the Asafohene, Akyamfuor Asafo Boakye Agyemang‑Bonsu (representing the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II), commended President Mahama for fulfilling a campaign promise. He underscored that youth in the region are in desperate need of jobs and expressed hope that the initiative will provide decent employment for many unemployed young men and women — thereby improving their lives.
“We hope that this intervention will not just be a mere launch, but the necessary steps will be taken going forward to support the beneficiary households to increase local production,” he said.
Why This Matters
Ghana’s poultry-industry revival is not merely about chicken; it represents a strategic push to rebuild rural livelihoods, promote inclusive economic growth, reduce import dependency, and strengthen national food sovereignty. With the Nkoko Nketenkete initiative linking household producers, anchor farmers and processing infrastructure, the government aims to reset the system.
The combination of investment, targeted distribution, technical support and market linkages offers a credible path toward increasing local poultry sufficiency from 12 per cent to over 75 per cent within three years. At the same time, the plan opens opportunities for women and youth empowerment, rural job creation, and value-chain development across Ghana’s regions.
Stay Tuned
As the rollout begins, stakeholders will closely monitor implementation: How effectively will the birds reach households? Will technical support and feed supply remain uninterrupted? Can the processing plant in Bono Region be delivered on time and operate as intended?
The answers will determine whether this initiative becomes a benchmark for agricultural transformation — or loses momentum before it takes flight.