President John Dramani Mahama has characterized Ghana’s annual $400 million expenditure on poultry imports as a national embarrassment, signaling a major policy shift toward local production.
Speaking at the launch of the Feed Ghana Programme in Techiman, the President announced a targeted intervention to support 54 specialized producers in raising four million birds. This effort, known as the “Nkoko Nketenkete” project, is designed to generate 10,000 metric tons of local chicken and serves as a primary pillar in the government’s strategy to end the country’s reliance on foreign meat.
The broader initiative extends beyond poultry to include a comprehensive livestock development plan for cattle, sheep, and goats, supported by the creation of specialized agro-production enclaves. To ensure these zones are attractive to private investors, the government is prioritizing the development of essential infrastructure, such as irrigation systems, reliable power grids, and modern warehousing.
As a practical start to the rollout, the President distributed tractors, Kia trucks, and agricultural inputs to the Ghana Prisons Service and the National Service Authority to encourage institutional self-sufficiency.
Central to this transformation is the establishment of Farmer Service Centres and land banks, which will provide young agri-entrepreneurs with access to mechanization and irrigable land. The program also features a vegetable development project called “Yeredua,” which utilizes greenhouse technologies to reduce vegetable imports, alongside a focus on grains and legumes for both domestic use and export.
By integrating school backyard gardening and community farming, the President aims to create a unified agricultural front that ensures long-term food security and economic independence for Ghana.
