File photo of a poultry farm
The government has announced the distribution of 720,000 birds under the Nkoko Nkitinkiti programme to boost local poultry production.
The birds were given to 13,000 farmers in twelve districts, including Tamale Metro, Wa Municipal, Nanton, Savelugu, Mion, Krachi East, Bawku West, West Gonja, Nandom, Sissala East, East Mamprusi, and Mamprugu Moagduri.
Mr Eric Opoku, Minister of Food and Agriculture, who disclosed this when he took his turn at the Government Accountability Series, noted that battery cages were also distributed in some cases to support backyard poultry production.
“This was the pilot for the Ministry to appreciate the associated risk of the Nkoko Nketenkete programme,” he said, adding, “The programme has been very successful, and hence the need for immediate rollout.”
President John Dramani Mahama officially launched the initiative on November 12, 2025, describing it as a major step to revitalise the poultry industry and reduce reliance on imported chicken.
The programme aims to empower about 55,000 households to produce eggs and poultry, thereby creating jobs and strengthening food security.
Ghana spends an estimated $300 million annually on chicken imports, and the initiative aims to reduce the import bill.
Mr Opoku said the intervention was intended to uplift vulnerable communities, particularly women-headed households, to enable them to contribute to food production while improving nutrition and income security.
He announced plans to establish a poultry processing factory in Bechem, Ahafo Region, to handle anticipated increases in production.
“… looking at the huge investment we are making in the poultry subsector, and the vigorous campaign for participation that the Ministry has launched, we anticipate that the nation is going to produce a lot of poultry in the coming months, hence our decision to set up a poultry processing factory in Bechem.
“The procurement processes for the factory have been completed, and the sod-cutting ceremony will be performed this coming Thursday, 27 November 2025, by H. E. John Dramani Mahama,” the Minister said.