The Upper East Regional Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Samuel Akonga, has criticised the government’s Nkoko Nkitinkiti initiative, describing it as unsustainable and unlikely to significantly improve Ghana’s poultry industry.
According to him, the government’s approach to implementing the programme places greater emphasis on distributing chickens to households than on strengthening the capacity of existing poultry farmers to increase production.
Speaking in an interview on A1 Radio, Dr Akonga argued that the initiative, in its current form, would struggle to achieve its objective of reducing Ghana’s dependence on imported poultry products.
“The Nkoko Nkitinkiti is not a viable program. The implementation process is problematic,” he said.
The Nkoko Nkitinkiti initiative was introduced by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government to boost domestic poultry production, improve food security and reduce Ghana’s expenditure on imported frozen chicken.
The programme seeks to decentralise poultry production by encouraging households, schools and communities to engage in poultry rearing, while creating income opportunities and improving access to affordable animal protein.
However, Dr Akonga questioned whether the government’s implementation strategy could deliver sustainable results, arguing that greater attention should be given to farmers already engaged in commercial poultry production.
He maintained that providing existing poultry farmers with the necessary resources to expand their operations would increase domestic production and contribute more meaningfully to reducing chicken imports.
“What the minister could have done, was to ensure that they empower the existing poultry farmers who are there, expand their production. And that can help to reduce the importation,” he stated.
Dr Akonga also criticised what he described as the government’s inadequate attention to industrial development, arguing that strengthening industries and existing businesses would create more sustainable employment opportunities for young people.
He stressed that Ghana’s industrial sector had significant potential to absorb unemployed youth if the government prioritised investment in productive enterprises.
According to him, policies aimed at boosting economic growth should focus on expanding the capacity of existing producers and industries rather than introducing interventions whose implementation may not deliver lasting economic benefits.
A1 Radio | 101.1 Mhz | Gifty Eyram Kudiabor | Bolgatanga
