Government to Begin Distribution of Birds Under ‘Nkoko Nkitinkiti’ Poultry Programme Mid-November — John Dumelo Announces

Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture John Dumelo has disclosed that the government will commence the distribution of birds under the flagship ‘Nkoko Nkitinkiti’ Poultry Programme by mid-November 2025, marking a major step in Ghana’s drive toward poultry self-sufficiency.

Speaking on PM EXPRESS BUSINESS EDITION with host George Wiafe, recorded in Washington D.C. on the sidelines of the IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings, Mr Dumelo said the initial phase of the programme will see the government distribute three million birds across constituencies nationwide.

According to the Deputy Minister, each constituency is expected to receive about 10,000 birds, which will be distributed to an estimated 200 households, with each receiving around 50 birds. He added that the package will include feed and vaccines to ensure the smooth start of rearing and prevent early losses.

“These birds will also be vaccinated, so beneficiaries can immediately begin their poultry farming,” Mr Dumelo explained.
“We believe that when people receive these birds, they can rear them in their backyards and make some money for themselves. This will go a long way to boost local production.”

He stressed that the government would closely monitor the process to ensure that the birds reach genuine beneficiaries and that transparency will be central to the implementation.

“We are committed to a transparent selection process that prioritises individuals who are genuinely willing and able to make the programme successful,” he added.

Mr Dumelo urged beneficiaries to view the initiative as an investment opportunity, encouraging them to reinvest the proceeds after their first sales to sustain the business.

“We should see this as an initial investment by the government. When the birds are ready and you sell them, use that money to buy new ones and continue,” he advised.

The Deputy Minister noted that the programme will prioritise individuals with basic poultry knowledge to avoid unnecessary losses.

“We are targeting people who have some knowledge of poultry farming because we don’t want these birds to die,” he said.

In response to concerns that the initiative might hurt existing poultry businesses, Mr Dumelo dismissed such fears, clarifying that the ‘Nkoko Nkitinkiti’ Programme is designed to complement and strengthen local production, not compete with it.

“The government is not happy about the high import rate of chicken for consumption in Ghana, given its impact on foreign exchange and local employment. That is why we are implementing this programme,” he explained.

He noted that Ghana spends over $300 million annually on imported poultry and that the government is determined to reduce dependence on imports by boosting local capacity.

“This programme could be a turning point for Ghana’s poultry industry as it seeks to create jobs for rural youth and women, strengthen domestic feed and processing industries, and help stabilise prices in local markets,” he added.

Mr Dumelo also revealed that the government is working with various agencies to ensure a steady supply of food throughout the year, including providing financial support to the National Food Buffer Stock Company to maintain reserves and prevent shortages.

He said the ministry aims to move away from a system where food is abundant during harvest and scarce afterward, leading to erratic prices and losses.

“The government is putting in place measures and initiatives to address post-harvest losses,” he assured.

The Deputy Minister highlighted ongoing collaboration between the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Ministry of Youth and Sports under the Youth in Agriculture Programme, aimed at engaging more young people in agribusiness.

He also encouraged private stakeholders to invest in storage, processing, and value addition to make Ghana’s food production chain more resilient.

“All these initiatives are aligned with our Feed Ghana programme, which aims to produce more food to feed ourselves and even export the surplus,” he concluded.

The Nkoko Nkitinkiti Programme, launched as part of the government’s broader Feed Ghana Agenda, is expected to revitalise Ghana’s poultry sector, reduce imports, and create thousands of jobs — a major step toward achieving food sovereignty and economic empowerment for local communities.

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