‘First time I’m hearing this’ — Agric Minister questions parallel poultry programme
The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr Eric Opoku, has said he was unaware of a separate government poultry programme being implemented under another ministry and will engage his colleague to seek clarification and ensure alignment.
Mr Opoku indicated that the National Broiler Project, reportedly coordinated under the Office of the Minister of State in Charge of Special Initiatives, had not come to his attention.
Speaking on Citi FM on March 17, 2026, he said he had not seen any budgetary allocation for the project and would take steps to verify the details.
“This is the first time I am hearing this,” he said. “I will call my colleague immediately and ask about the project, and then we see how we can reconcile.”
Call for coordination
The Minister stressed the need to harmonise all government poultry initiatives to prevent duplication and ensure equitable distribution of benefits.
“We have to coordinate so that this person who will benefit will not also benefit from another programme being executed somewhere,” he said.
Probe into ‘Nkoko Nkitinkiti’ complaints
Mr Opoku also confirmed that the Ministry has ordered investigations into reports that some beneficiaries of the Backyard Poultry Project, popularly known as Nkoko Nkitinkiti, received fewer than the stipulated 50 birds.
“We have asked for investigations into it,” he said, adding that every beneficiary is entitled to 50 birds and feed. “Every beneficiary under that should be given 50. If somebody deliberately shares 10, no, no, no, that is out of place.”
He explained that preliminary findings suggest the shortfalls in some constituencies may have resulted from beneficiaries sharing allocations among multiple household members, rather than misconduct by district officials.
He described such cases as isolated, noting that the programme has been implemented in nearly 10 regions with only a few reported complaints.
Programme structure
Under the scheme, each constituency receives 10,000 birds for distribution to 200 registered beneficiaries, with 50 birds allocated per household.
The Minister urged beneficiaries who received fewer than the approved number to report to district directors or programme coordinators, assuring that such concerns would be addressed promptly.
New poultry initiative
Mr Opoku further announced that the Ministry will roll out a Poultry Intensification Programme next month, targeting farmers with the capacity to manage larger-scale operations.
He said four million birds are being procured for the initiative, with allocations ranging from 5,000 to 80,000 birds depending on farmers’ capacity.
In addition, he said he had directed his team to invite leaders of the national poultry farmers’ association to a meeting next week to review last year’s distribution ahead of the next phase.
Mr Opoku said the various poultry initiatives form part of broader efforts to reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported poultry products.
