Government spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, says that the poultry industry has collapsed, stressing that the new ‘Nkukor Nkitinkiti’ policy is aimed at reviving the sector and boosting agricultural production.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Roundtable on Wednesday, March 12, during discussions on the 2025 budget, Kwakye Ofosu stated that the policy is part of a broader economic transformation agenda that includes multiple agricultural interventions.

“It is part of a programme that we call the agriculture or economic transformation agenda, which involves a lot of activities aimed at boosting agriculture,” he explained.

“So if you go under that program, there’s what we call the Feed Ghana programme, there’s the Ghana Grains Development Project, there’s the Vegetable Development Project, and the ‘Nkukor Nkitinkiti’—essentially, what we call the Poultry Farm to Table project.”

The minister acknowledged the dire state of the poultry industry, stressing that urgent intervention is necessary.

“Incidentally, as we speak, the poultry industry has collapsed,” he stated bluntly.

“That is why we are starting with poultry, but we are aware that there are many other things that can be done within the framework of animal husbandry, snail rearing, and other ventures in the sector.”

Kwakye Ofosu dismissed the notion that the initiative is just about distributing chicks to farmers.

Instead, he described it as a comprehensive programme that integrates multiple agricultural sectors, from vegetable farming and grain production to tuber cultivation.

“It is not just about having chicks given to you to go and raise to build a poultry farm on your own. We are going to help farmers who grow vegetables, those who are into grains, soya beans, rice, yams, cassava, and more. It is a broad, structured programme designed to support multiple agricultural activities,” he explained.

According to the minister, the government has allocated ¢1.5 billion Ghana cedis to fund the initiative, acknowledging concerns over whether the amount is sufficient.

“Some have raised the issue about whether or not this is adequate. One would have wanted a situation where a lot more money is devoted to it.

"But given the state of the economy and the resource control that we have, government has put in this money in the belief that if we start this way and continue with consistency, we will grow the industry,” he assured.

He expressed confidence that the policy will attract more private investment into the sector.

“Eventually, those who have benefited initially will grow their capital to reinvest, and others who may have some capital but are unsure where to invest it will also come in because poultry is a lucrative venture,” he noted.

“As the economy expands and more money becomes available to the government, we will increase allocations to ensure as many people as possible can venture into agriculture.”

Kwakye Ofosu underscored that agriculture remains a key pillar in tackling unemployment, which he described as one of Ghana’s biggest challenges.

“We believe agriculture is one of the ways we can create jobs, especially in a situation where unemployment remains one of the biggest national problems,” he stated.

“This is not just about poultry—it is about a broad range of activities within the agriculture sector.”

With the ‘Nkukor Nkitinkiti’ policy, the government hopes to revive the poultry industry, strengthen the agricultural value chain, and create sustainable employment opportunities, signaling a major push toward food security and economic self-sufficiency.