“ When I was campaigning during the 2024 election, I wanted to say Nkoko Mma, but a slip of the tongue made me say Nkoko Nketenkete. Today, that slip of the tongue has been transformed into a national movement ”
When President John Dramani Mahama stood before a crowd in Kumasi on November 12, 2025, few could have anticipated that a simple slip of the tongue during his campaign trail would evolve into a national movement. Yet, as he launched the Nkoko Nketenkete Project, the atmosphere was charged with laughter, applause, and a palpable sense of optimism.
The Nkoko Nketenkete Project is more than a catchy phrase; it represents a bold step toward food security and agricultural sustainability under the government’s Feed Ghana Programme. At its core, the initiative seeks to reduce Ghana’s heavy dependence on imported chicken and promote local poultry production.
The statistics are sobering: in 2023 alone, Ghana spent $350 million on chicken imports, a figure President Mahama described as “unsustainable” and detrimental to the country’s economy. This reliance on foreign poultry not only drains national resources but also stifles the growth of local farmers who could otherwise meet domestic demand.
The project’s design is ambitious. The government plans to distribute three million birds across 275 constituencies, with each constituency receiving 10,000 birds. At the household level, families will be given 50 vaccinated birds along with feed to begin their poultry rearing operations. This approach is both practical and empowering, offering ordinary Ghanaians the tools to participate directly in the nation’s agricultural transformation. President Mahama emphasized that “the success of this program depends on our collective effort,” urging citizens, especially the youth, to seize the opportunity to build sustainable farming businesses that could transform their futures.
Beyond distribution, the project envisions infrastructure that will anchor its long-term success. Construction is set to begin within two weeks on a modern poultry processing factory at Bechem in the Ahafo Region. This facility will process locally reared birds for the domestic market, ensuring that the supply chain is not only robust but also capable of meeting the growing demand for poultry products. Such investments signal a commitment to building a self-sufficient ecosystem where production, processing, and consumption are aligned within Ghana’s borders.
The long-term goal is striking: to increase Ghana’s poultry self-sufficiency from 12 percent to 75 percent by 2028. Achieving this target would mark a dramatic shift in the nation’s food security landscape, reducing vulnerability to global market fluctuations and strengthening the local economy. President Mahama’s words captured the spirit of this vision: “The Nkoko Nketenkete Project is not just about poultry. It is about food security, job creation, national pride, and economic transformation.”
The project also carries symbolic weight. By turning a campaign slip into a rallying cry, President Mahama has demonstrated how moments of imperfection can spark innovation and unity. The laughter that greeted his anecdote in Kumasi was more than amusement; it was a recognition of shared humanity and the power of collective action. In a country where agriculture has long been both a challenge and a promise, Nkoko Nketenkete has become a phrase that embodies resilience, creativity, and determination.
Community involvement is central to the initiative’s success. The President appealed to chiefs and religious leaders to use their influence to promote the project within their communities. Their voices, he noted, could inspire broader participation and ensure that the program reaches every corner of the nation. This call to action reflects an understanding that policy alone cannot drive transformation; it requires cultural endorsement and grassroots mobilization.
The economic implications are profound. By reducing imports, Ghana can redirect millions of dollars into local industries, creating jobs and stimulating rural economies. Poultry farming, once seen as a small-scale endeavor, could become a cornerstone of national development. For young entrepreneurs, the project offers a pathway into agribusiness, a sector with immense potential for innovation and growth.
Yet, challenges remain. Scaling up production to meet national demand will require not only birds and feed but also training, veterinary support, and market access. Ensuring that households can sustain their operations beyond the initial distribution phase will be critical. The government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for farmers and investors will be tested in the coming years, as the project moves from launch to implementation.
Still, the optimism surrounding Nkoko Nketenkete is undeniable. It represents a vision of Ghana where food security is not a distant dream but a tangible reality, built through collective effort and strategic investment. As Mahama reminded the nation, “although every great beginning comes with challenges, the project will ultimately be fruitful and profitable for the country.”
In the end, Nkoko Nketenkete is more than a poultry project. It is a story of transformation born from a slip of the tongue, a reminder that progress often emerges from unexpected places. It is a call to action for Ghanaians to take pride in their capacity to feed themselves, to create jobs, and to build a future where national pride is rooted not only in words but in deeds.
Source: President Mahama launches ‘Nkoko Nketenkete’ project to boost food security
