President Mahama targets 100% local chicken production in 3 years

President John Dramani Mahama says Ghana is poised to become self-sufficient in chicken production within the next three years through the implementation of the ‘Nkokɔ Nkitinkiti’ project, a national initiative aimed at boosting local chicken farming and cutting down on poultry imports.

Speaking about the vision behind the project when he visited the National Service Authority Papao Farms in Accra on Friday, September 12, President Mahama said the goal is to ensure that nearly all the chicken consumed in the country is produced locally.

“Once the Nkokɔ Nkitinkiti project takes off, we believe that in three years, we’ll be producing almost 100% of the chicken that we eat in Ghana ourselves. So that we can stop bringing nkokɔfunu from outside. We don’t know how those chickens were raised,” he said.

He expressed concern about the health risks associated with imported poultry, particularly from countries where production practices may not meet Ghana’s health and safety standards.

“In many of those countries, they use genetically modified chickens. In many of the countries, they inject the chickens with hormones,” he noted.

According to President Mahama, the aim of the ‘Nkokɔ Nkitinkiti’ project is not only to reduce Ghana’s dependency on poultry imports but also to promote healthier, locally-sourced food options for Ghanaians.

“We want fresh Ghanaian-grown chicken, so that our people can live a healthy life,” he emphasised.

The Nkokɔ Nkitinkiti project is expected to include a nationwide supply chain system from providing day-old chicks and feed to small and large-scale farmers, to establishing processing plants and distributing finished products under a local brand.

The project also aligns with Mahama’s broader plan to support youth employment, agricultural development, and national food security.