Nkoko Nkitinkiti's first phase paves way for commercial poultry revolution - Opoku

The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has indicated that the successful implementation of the first phase of the government's flagship Nkoko Nkitinkiti Programme has set the stage for the rollout of its second and more transformative phase: the commercialisation of Ghana's poultry industry.

Speaking to journalists after briefing Parliament on the progress of the programme last week, the Minister described the household and domestic poultry production phase as highly successful, saying the overwhelming response and encouraging outcomes have given the government confidence to expand the initiative into large-scale commercial production.

"The household and domestic poultry production phase has been highly successful. The overwhelming response and encouraging outcomes have given us every confidence to expand the programme into large-scale commercial production," Eric Opoku said.

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According to him, the remarkable success recorded under the domestic production phase demonstrates that the policy is not merely an agricultural intervention but a practical blueprint for rebuilding Ghana's poultry industry from the grassroots up.

"This programme is not merely an agricultural intervention but a practical blueprint for rebuilding Ghana's poultry industry from the grassroots up," he stated.

He noted that the initiative is gradually laying the foundation for a self-sustaining poultry sector capable of creating thousands of jobs, improving household nutrition, reducing Ghana's dependence on imported frozen chicken, and conserving millions of dollars in foreign exchange.

"We are laying the foundation for a self-sustaining poultry sector that will create jobs, improve household nutrition, reduce our dependence on imported frozen chicken and conserve millions of dollars in foreign exchange," the Minister said.

The Minister said the success of the first phase provides strong justification for transitioning to the commercialisation phase of the Nkoko Nkitinkiti Programme.

He noted that if the first phase has demonstrated that Ghanaian households are willing and able to participate in poultry production, the next logical step is to scale that success into a vibrant commercial industry capable of meeting a significant share of the country's poultry demand.

Highlighting the broader economic significance of the programme, Opoku said Ghana has for years spent huge sums importing poultry products.

"For decades, Ghana has spent approximately US$350 million annually importing frozen chicken, an expenditure that has continued to drain the country's foreign exchange while creating jobs and economic value in other countries instead of within Ghana. It is this long-standing economic imbalance that the Nkoko Nkitinkiti Programme seeks to reverse," he said.

The Minister described the policy as one of Ghana's most ambitious import-substitution initiatives in recent years.

"By encouraging domestic production before scaling up to commercial operations, we are pursuing a deliberate strategy to strengthen food security, stimulate agribusiness, empower women and young people, revitalise rural economies, and retain more national wealth within the local economy," he added.

With the first phase yielding encouraging results, the government is now shifting attention to the commercialisation agenda, which is expected to deepen investment across the entire poultry value chain, from hatcheries and feed mills to processing plants, cold-chain logistics, packaging, transportation, and retail distribution.

Opoku expressed optimism that the next phase would significantly transform Ghana's poultry industry.

"If successfully implemented, the second phase could mark the beginning of a new era in Ghana's poultry industry, transforming the Nkoko Nkitinkiti Programme into a major driver of industrial growth, employment creation and economic resilience," he said.