Mahama unveils three-tier poultry program designed to create economic opportunities and boost national food security
President John Dramani Mahama has announced an ambitious national chicken farming initiative(nkokonkitinkiti project) that promises to revolutionize agricultural opportunities for young Ghanaians while strengthening the country’s food security infrastructure.
During an inspection tour of the National Service Authority Poultry Farm today 12th September, 2025, President Mahama unveiled the “Nkoko Nkitinkiti Project,” a comprehensive three-tier chicken production strategy set to launch next month.
The initiative will distribute resources across three distinct production levels:
– Large-scale producers : 4 million day-old chicks
– Medium-scale producers : 3 million day-old chicks
– Household and young entrepreneurs : Comprehensive starter packages
“Every household, every young entrepreneur who signs up will identify your site, your chicken house, and then we’ll give you the day-old chicks, and we’ll also supply you with the feed,” President Mahama explained during the announcement.
The program offers unprecedented support for participants, including:
– Free day-old chicks with vaccination services
– Complete feed supply throughout the growing period
– Guaranteed buyback program for mature chickens
– Continuous cycle of new chick distribution
“Your responsibility is simple – feed the chickens, let them grow, and we will purchase the mature chickens back from you while providing the next set of chicks,” President assured Ghanaians.
A critical component of the initiative involves establishing processing plants across the country. The first facility is currently undergoing procurement approval, with construction set to begin once authorized.
“We’re going to build processing plants in different parts of the country,” President Mahama stated. “When we buy the chickens from you, we’ll take them to the processing plant, process and package them nicely with our brand, then supply them directly to supermarkets and cold store owners.”
The National Service Authority Poultry Farm, which currently operates 70,000 birds with a target capacity of 100,000, will serve multiple functions as a producing farm, training center, and research facility.
President Mahama expressed confidence in the project’s potential, stating his intention to bring the Minister of Finance to inspect the facility upon his return to secure funding for additional infrastructure including processing plants, hostels, vehicles, and solar power installations.
“We will support you all the way. We’ll make this a model farm so that people will come from other West African countries to study what national service personnel and volunteers have accomplished here,” the President declared.
This initiative represents a significant investment in Ghana’s agricultural sector and youth empowerment. By removing traditional barriers such as initial capital requirements and market access challenges, the program creates an accessible pathway for young Ghanaians to enter commercial agriculture.
The project’s integrated approach – from chick distribution through processing and retail distribution – establishes a complete value chain that promises sustainable economic opportunities while contributing to national food security.
The “Nkokokitinkiti Project” positions Ghana as a potential leader in West African poultry production, with ambitions to serve as a model for neighboring countries seeking to develop their agricultural sectors.
