Nkoko Nkitinkiti's first phase success sets stage for commercial poultry revolution - Eric Opoku

Eric Opoku, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, announced that the successful implementation of the first phase of the government's flagship Nkoko Nkitinkiti Programme has paved the way for the rollout of its second phase, which will focus on commercialising Ghana's poultry industry. He spoke to journalists after briefing Parliament on the progress of the programme.

Mr. Opoku described the household poultry production phase as a major success, stating that the strong public response and positive outcomes have given the government the confidence to expand the initiative into large-scale commercial production. He said the programme has demonstrated that Ghanaian households are ready to play a central role in rebuilding the country's poultry industry. The achievements recorded so far show that the programme is a long-term strategy to transform the poultry sector, create jobs, improve household nutrition, reduce dependence on imported frozen chicken, and conserve foreign exchange. The transition to commercial production would help establish a self-sustaining poultry industry capable of meeting a significant share of Ghana's domestic demand. The next phase would stimulate investment across the poultry value chain, including hatcheries, feed production, processing plants, cold-chain logistics, packaging, transportation, and retail distribution. The programme forms part of government's broader import substitution agenda aimed at strengthening food security, revitalising rural economies, and creating employment opportunities, particularly for women and young people.