President John Dramani Mahama has launched the “Nkoko Nkitinkiti” initiative, a nationwide programme designed to revitalise Ghana’s poultry industry, strengthen food security, and create sustainable livelihoods. The launch took place in Kumasi on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
Describing the initiative as “more than just a government intervention,” President Mahama said it represents a national movement to restore food self-sufficiency, empower households, and promote sustainable income generation, especially for women, youth, and vulnerable families.
The “Nkoko Nkitinkiti” initiative is a key part of the Poultry Industry Revitalisation Programme, which forms a major component of the broader Feed Ghana Programme, an ambitious national plan to transform agriculture, promote food sovereignty, and reduce reliance on imports.
Highlighting challenges facing the sector, Mahama noted that Ghana spent over $350 million on poultry imports in 2023, calling it a “drain on foreign exchange and a missed opportunity for farmers and entrepreneurs.” He said the government’s goal is to reclaim Ghana’s pride in producing, processing, and consuming locally grown products.
The Feed Ghana Programme is built on three components: the Poultry Farm-to-Table Project, which will support 50 anchor farmers with 80,000 birds each to produce four million birds; a small and medium-scale support scheme for 500 farmers across all regions; and the “Nkoko Nkitinkiti” or Backyard Poultry for Nutrition and Livelihoods initiative.
Under the community-driven phase, 3 million birds will be distributed across 276 constituencies, with 60,000 households each receiving 50 birds and technical support.
President Mahama emphasised that the project will not only boost domestic poultry production but also foster resilience, create jobs, and ensure that “every Ghanaian household becomes part of Ghana’s food security journey.”
