President Mahama targets 100% local chicken production in 3 years
President John Dramani Mahama has pledged his government’s full commitment to revitalising Ghana’s poultry industry, setting an ambitious target of achieving 100 per cent self-sufficiency in chicken production within the next three years.
The President made the declaration on Friday, September 12, 2025, during a working visit to the National Service Authority (NSA) Poultry Farm in Haatso, Accra. He praised the scale and efficiency of the facility, saying, “What is happening here is very impressive.”
Despite heavy rains, President Mahama toured the farm, moving from pen to pen to assess the condition of the birds, inspect ongoing work and examine the technology being deployed.
A key outcome of the visit was his pledge to elevate the facility into a centre of excellence. “I promise to help you to develop this poultry farm into a centre of excellence,” he said, adding that the farm would serve as “a producing farm, a training farm and a research farm.”
The President revealed that he had directed the Finance Minister to visit the site personally to assess its operations and identify areas that require government backing. “It will ensure that the sector receives the necessary financial and policy support,” he assured.
As part of broader reforms, President Mahama announced support schemes for poultry farmers at every scale, including the provision of day-old chicks for large-scale farmers, and targeted assistance for medium and household producers.
He further disclosed that a new national initiative, dubbed Nkoko Nkitikiti, will be launched next month to drive poultry production nationwide. While details of the programme will be announced at the launch, it is expected to serve as a catalyst for job creation, local food security and reduce import dependency.
“The ultimate goal is to halt the massive importation of poultry products and retain millions of dollars within the local economy. We want to eat home-grown Ghanaian chickens,” the President declared to loud applause.
The government’s renewed focus on the poultry sector is expected to serve as a major pillar of its agricultural transformation agenda, aimed at creating jobs, reducing the import bill and boosting food security.
Providing background, the Director-General of the National Service Secretariat (NSS), Ms Ruth Dela Seddoh, explained that the facility began in the 1990s as a demonstration farm with a capacity of just 2,500 birds. Since January 2025, however, it has expanded to house over 100,000 birds, of which 70,000 are currently active.
She stressed that the Authority’s involvement in agriculture was in line with its mission to empower young graduates with practical skills under the Feed Ghana Agenda through the Nkokɔ Nketekete project. “The National Service Authority carries a sacred mandate: to harness the energy, intellect, and passion of our nation’s youth in service to our motherland,” she said.
To address persistent industry challenges such as high input costs and weak supply chains, Ms Seddoh unveiled a vertically integrated poultry model covering feed production, in-house egg production, broiler processing and packaging. This, she said, would create cost efficiency and new income streams.
Appealing for further support, Ms Seddoh requested government backing for the construction of a state-of-the-art processing facility to boost the Authority’s agricultural capacity. She stressed: “Achieving your aim to revolutionise this industry and create tens of thousands of jobs is not just possible—it is non-negotiable.”
