President John Dramani Mahama has pledged to fully support the National Service Authority’s (NSA) poultry farm project, describing it as a model that could transform Ghana’s poultry industry and reduce the country’s heavy dependence on imported chicken.
Speaking during a visit to the NSA poultry farm at Papao, President Mahama commended the Authority and the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment for what he called “impressive work.”
“Even before the inspection tour, the briefing I received shows that what is happening here is remarkable,” he said. “I want to congratulate the Minister and the staff of the National Service Scheme for the outstanding work you are doing.”
The Papao farm, which currently houses 70,000 birds, has a projected capacity of 100,000. Mahama said he was confident that the facility would soon reach full production.
“I pledge my full support to develop this poultry farm into a center of excellence, one that will serve as a producing farm, a training hub, and a research facility,” he added.
President John Dramani Mahama revealed that he had already discussed the project with the Minister of Finance and intends to push for more investment in the farm.
“As soon as he lands back in the country, I will personally bring him here so that when we request funds for a processing plant, hostels, vehicles, and solar power to boost electricity supply, he will have no hesitation in approving them,” Mahama stated.
He further announced that government will soon launch the Nkokɔ Nkitinkiti Project, an initiative aimed at supplying millions of day-old chicks to large, medium, and household producers nationwide.
“Large-scale producers will get about four million day-old chicks, medium-scale producers three million, and household entrepreneurs will also be supported with chicks, feed, and vaccinations,” he explained. “All they need to do is raise and feed the birds, and government will buy back the chickens when they are grown.”
To ensure sustainability, President Mahama said processing plants are being established across the country, with the first already at the procurement stage.
“These plants will process and package poultry under the Nkokɔ Nkitinkiti brand for direct distribution to supermarkets and cold stores,” he said.
The initiative, he noted, is expected to drastically cut down Ghana’s poultry import bill.
“Within three years, we should be producing almost 100 percent of the chicken we consume in Ghana ourselves. We don’t need to keep bringing in nkokɔfunu from outside chickens that are often genetically modified or injected with hormones,” Mahama declared.
“What we want is fresh, healthy, Ghanaian-grown chicken for our people.
Poultry raised by our farmers, supported by our youth, and consumed by our households,” he emphasized.
Mahama concluded by assuring stakeholders that the Papao project would become a model farm for the entire sub-region.
“We will make this a model so that people from across West Africa will come here to study what our National Service personnel and volunteers have achieved,” he said.
