President John Dramani Mahama has announced the launch of the Nkoko Nkitinkiti Project, a flagship initiative aimed at reducing Ghana’s heavy reliance on imported poultry, which currently costs the country over $300 million annually.
Speaking at his first State of the Nation Address on Thursday, Mahama described Ghana’s poultry import dependency as unsustainable and emphasized the urgent need for self-sufficiency in poultry production.
“Ghana imports 95% of its poultry needs, draining our foreign exchange reserves and making us vulnerable to global price fluctuations,” Mahama said. “The Nkoko Nkitinkiti Project will revamp the sector, boost local production, and ultimately eliminate poultry imports.”
The initiative will cover 55,000 households, equipping them with the necessary resources to raise poultry and produce eggs for the local market. This is expected to significantly reduce import dependency while providing income opportunities for small-scale farmers.
Mahama explained that the government will invest in hatcheries, feed mills, processing plants, and distribution networks to ensure efficiency in the poultry value chain.
“This initiative will not only reduce our import bill but also create jobs and strengthen our economy,” he added.
As part of broader agricultural reforms, Mahama’s administration will also introduce the AgriNext program, which will provide young farmers with access to land banks and connect them with financing and training.
“We want agriculture, particularly poultry farming, to be seen as a profitable and attractive business for our youth,” Mahama said.
Experts have praised the Nkoko Nkitinkiti Project as a transformational step toward food security. With proper implementation, Ghana could drastically cut poultry imports within a few years while strengthening the local economy.
Mahama assured Ghanaians that his administration is committed to delivering tangible results, stating, “We have the land, water, and expertise to feed ourselves. This is the time to make it happen.”
