Do Not Politicize the Nkoko Nkitinkiti Programme – Persant Farmers Association, Upper East Region

The Ghanaian government is set to officially unveil the Nkoko Nkitinkiti poultry initiative in October, a strategic move aimed at reducing the nation’s heavy dependence on imported chicken and bolstering domestic food security.

This ambitious programme entails the procurement of an impressive 3 million birds, with each parliamentary constituency receiving a generous allocation of 10,000 birds at no cost. Furthermore, 50 established commercial-scale farmers will benefit from the supply of 80,000 birds, while medium-scale farmers will be allocated between 1,000 and 3,000 birds each. The Minister clarified that although commercial and medium-scale farmers will be responsible for repaying the costs of the birds they receive, the allocation to constituencies will be completely free for beneficiaries. The initiative is projected to incur an expenditure of roughly GHS200 million from the government.

Currently, Ghana imports over 80% of its poultry requirements, a situation which Mr. Opoku has described as untenable. He expressed confidence that the Nkoko Nkitinkiti programme will lead to a significant reduction in imports, revitalizing the poultry sector to meet the growing domestic demand.

In an insightful interview, John Akaribo, the leader of the Persant Farmers Association in the Upper East Region, shared his perspective on the Nkoko Nkitinkiti programme. He noted that when the initiative was initially announced by President John Dramani Mahama, it faced substantial criticism. However, he views the forthcoming bird distribution, set to commence on Thursday, October 3, 2025, as a much-needed and positive development for local poultry farmers.

Akatibo raised important concerns regarding the challenges of feeding the birds, emphasizing the necessity of distributing them to individuals who possess the requisite skills and experience in poultry farming. He argued that the birds should be allocated to those with proper space for housing the birds, the knowledge to effectively feed them, and a genuine interest in rearing them. He cautioned against distributing the birds solely to party members who may lack the necessary expertise and understanding of poultry management.

Additionally, he highlighted the vital role that technological expertise plays in the success of this programme and advocated for the involvement of agricultural professionals and experienced individuals already engaged in poultry farming to ensure the initiative’s long-term success