Poultry farmers across Ghana have expressed growing frustration with the government for excluding key stakeholders from the planning and implementation of the ‘Nkokor Nkitinkiti’ initiative – a flagship programme by President John Dramani Mahama’s administration intended to revitalise the domestic poultry sector.
The initiative, first announced during the 2024 election campaign, aims to distribute day-old chicks, feed, and veterinary support to households and farmers to promote self-sufficiency in poultry production.
However, in interviews and statements from regional associations, farmers say they were sidelined ahead of the project’s expected launch in November 2025.
Vice President of the Sunyani Poultry Farmers Association, Johnson Yeboah, said the government had failed to honour its promise to consult industry players before the rollout, noting that several poultry associations were never invited to contribute their expertise despite earlier assurances.
“Initially, the President made us aware that they were going to engage the association to ensure successful implementation, but as we speak, no government official has bothered to engage us”
Johnson Yeboah, Vice President of the Sunyani Poultry Farmers Association
He criticised government plans to distribute 80,000 birds, calling them unrealistic and poorly planned. According to him, “throwing birds into the system” without involving established producers could lead to disease outbreaks and poor outcomes.
He added that some assemblies had already begun registering people with no farming experience, which he described as “dangerous” for the sustainability of the project.
Mr. Yeboah also lamented the worsening egg glut in the Bono Region, where farmers are struggling to sell their produce and facing financial losses, urging the government to work directly with local associations to address both short-term challenges and long-term sustainability.
Northern Farmers Voice Similar Concerns
In the Northern Region, similar frustrations have surfaced. Poultry farmers reported that they have not been contacted at any stage of the ‘Nkokor Nkitinkiti’ programme’s design or implementation.
A farm owner in the Tolon District, Mr. Abubakari Mohammed Nurudeen, said while the policy could be transformative nationwide, the lack of engagement could derail its purpose.
“It’s a good policy, especially with the plan to ban imported frozen chicken. However, the government must engage us. We, the farmers in the north, should be contacted so that together we can plan how the birds will be disbursed”
Mr. Abubakari Mohammed Nurudeen, Poultry Farm Owner
Northern Regional Chairman of the Poultry Farmers Association, Razak Abdul Jalil Wunpini, added that his 600-member association, with a production capacity of 150,000 birds, had not been included or shortlisted to benefit from the programme.
“We are the real actors in poultry production, so if we’re not included, we don’t know who the beneficiaries will be. People without the requisite knowledge of poultry farming – how do you expect them to sustain the project?”
Razak Abdul Jalil Wunpini, Northern Regional Chairman of the Poultry Farmers Association
Calls for Clear Policy Direction
At the national level, the Poultry Farmers Association said no consultation had taken place, either regionally or centrally. National Chairman George Dasah revealed that even attempts to meet the Minister of Food and Agriculture had been unsuccessful.
“Recently, the Western Regional Association held a press briefing to say they’ve not been involved. At the national level, we haven’t been engaged either,” he added, describing their sidelining as a rather unfortunate approach to the government’s efforts at revitalizing Ghana’s poultry sector.
He called for the establishment of a coherent, long-term policy framework for Ghana’s poultry sector, arguing that fragmented, short-term interventions without the involvement of relevant stakeholders would not achieve the desired transformation.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has sought to reassure the industry that stakeholders remain integral to the rollout.
Northern Regional Animal Production Officer, Issah Abukari, said the ministry had already compiled a list of service providers to support the programme. He emphasised that implementation was being conducted carefully to ensure lasting results.
“Farmers shouldn’t panic; they’re not left out. The process is being done step by step,” Mr. Abukari said.
The Minister for Food and Agriculture. Hon. Eric Opoku has explained further that the ‘Nkokor Nkitinkiti’ program does not include commercial farmers, as it is only a segment of the government’s Multifaceted plan towards poultry production in the country.
The ongoing standoff between poultry farmers and government officials over their consultation and general involvement in the program highlights the need for stronger coordination and trust within Ghana’s agricultural policy landscape.
Despite not being the government’s plan for commercial poultry farming, for many industry stakeholders, genuine collaboration may determine whether ‘Nkokor Nkitinkiti’ becomes the catalyst for national poultry growth or another missed opportunity.
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