Poultry farmers in the Northern Region have raised concerns over their exclusion from the planning and rollout of the government’s flagship ‘Nkukor Nkitinkiti’ programme.
The initiative, expected to be launched on November 12, 2025, aims to transform Ghana’s poultry sector, achieve self-sufficiency in chicken production, and reduce dependence on imported frozen chicken. Initially scheduled for rollout in October, the project—estimated to cost about GHS 200 million—has faced delays and, according to farmers, a lack of stakeholder engagement.
Leaders of the Poultry Farmers Association say they have not been consulted at any stage of the programme’s planning or implementation.
The owner of Excellent Farms in Tali, Tolon District, Abubakari Mohammed Nurudeen, told Channel One News that while the programme is a welcome intervention, farmers feel sidelined.
“I don’t know much about it, but I think 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 to ensure the right people are involved,” he said.
“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? I fear it might fail. Government should involve us as key stakeholders,” he cautioned.
Their concerns reflect broader unease across the country. The National Chairman of the Poultry Farmers Association, George Dasah, told Channel One News that no engagement has taken place even at the national level.
“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. We’ve tried to meet the Minister but to no avail,” he said.
Mr. Dasah also called for the creation of a comprehensive, long-term policy framework to guide the poultry industry.
“We need a clear strategic policy direction for the poultry sector so that successive governments can continue the work. Otherwise, we’ll keep moving back and forth,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Northern Regional Animal Production Officer at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Issah Abukari has sought to reassure farmers, stressing that their role remains critical to the success of the ‘Nkoko Nkitinkiti’ programme.
“At the regional level, we have successfully compiled a list of service providers—those who will brood the birds up to four weeks. Farmers shouldn’t panic; they’re not left out. The process is being done step by step,” the official said.
