A representative of the Veterinary Medical Association, Dr Kwao Pecku, has called for stronger collaboration among key stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the government's Nkoko Nkitinkiti programme.

Speaking at the JoyNews Business Roundtable on Ghana's poultry industry on Friday, July 17, under the theme "Can Ghana Feed Itself? The Future of Poultry Beyond Nkoko Nketenkete." Dr Pecku said although government interventions such as the Nkoko Nkitinkiti programme are well-conceived, their success will depend largely on effective implementation and the active involvement of stakeholders across the country.

"It is our goal to ensure that every government policy, such as Nkoko Nkitinkiti, succeeds, unlike other policies that have come and gone," he said.

According to him, many of the challenges confronting Ghana's poultry industry stem from weak animal health management systems, which have contributed to disease outbreaks and ultimately undermined previous interventions.

"These are very brilliant policies if you look at the structures that have been put in place, but now it comes to the point of implementation. If you look at the key challenges in the poultry industry, weak animal health management systems, and all of that, most of these policies have not succeeded because of outbreaks of diseases," he explained.

Dr Pecku argued that one of the major shortcomings has been the exclusion of critical stakeholders, particularly veterinary professionals, from the implementation process.

"The key stakeholders are sometimes left out. We are not being involved. Most of the policies, when it comes to the district level and community level, do not have full participation," he said.

He also highlighted logistical constraints, including inadequate staffing and a lack of equipment, as significant barriers to monitoring and implementing government programmes effectively.

"There are a lot of logistical constraints when we talk about staffing and equipment needed to monitor most of these programmes," he noted.

While stressing that the Veterinary Services Directorate has an important role to play, Dr Pecku said the responsibility for ensuring the success of poultry policies extends beyond a single institution.

"These policies are very brilliant, but a lot of things have to be done. It is not just the veterinary services; we are also looking at other stakeholders who play a very vital role in these government policies," he said.

He called for stronger collaboration between government agencies, veterinary professionals, and stakeholders at the district and community levels, insisting that greater coordination is essential if initiatives such as Nkoko Nkitinkiti are to achieve their intended objectives.

"I think much has to be done if we want to see this policy succeed and help our dear nation. The collaboration has not really been there when it comes to the district and local levels, and that has really affected these policies," Dr Pecku added.

Ghana consumes an estimated 452,100 tonnes of chicken a year but produces only about 60,000 tonnes of it domestically - meaning roughly 87% of the chicken Ghanaians eat is imported. Closing that gap means raising 226 million birds a year, roughly 7.5 times today's domestic output of about 30 million birds, or less than one bird per Ghanaian raised locally today.