In a bold move aimed at transforming Ghana’s agricultural landscape, President John Dramani Mahama has declared an ambitious plan to achieve 100% 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, where he unveiled a strategic vision to bolster local poultry farming.
Despite heavy rains, President Mahama personally toured the NSA facility, inspecting the pens, assessing the birds, and examining the farm’s technology and ongoing expansion work. He was visibly impressed by the scale and efficiency of the operations, which have grown exponentially in 2025.
“What is happening here is very impressive,” the President stated, pledging his government’s full support to develop the site.
The President announced that the NSA poultry farm would be elevated to a “centre of excellence,” with a triple mandate as a “a producing farm, a training farm and a research farm.”
He revealed that he has already directed the Finance Minister to visit the site personally to assess its operations and identify areas that require government backing to ensure the sector receives the necessary financial and policy support.
This targeted support is a key pillar of a broader national poultry strategy. The government plans to roll out support schemes for poultry farmers of all scales, from providing day-old chicks for large-scale farmers to offering targeted assistance for medium and household producers.
The President also disclosed that a new national initiative, dubbed Nkoko Nkitikiti, is scheduled to be launched next month. While further details will be provided at the launch, the program is designed to be a catalyst for creating jobs, enhancing food security, and reducing Ghana’s heavy reliance on poultry imports.
“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 from onlookers. The current annual national poultry consumption stands at approximately 400,000 tonnes, with local farmers producing less than 20% of the total demand, a deficit that costs the nation hundreds of millions of dollars in imports annually.
Providing background on the NSA facility’s remarkable growth, the Director-General of the National Service Secretariat (NSS), Ms. Ruth Dela Seddoh, explained that the farm began as a demonstration facility in the 1990s with a capacity of just 2,500 birds. However, since January 2025, it has expanded to house over 100,000 birds, of which 70,000 are currently active.
She stressed that the Authority’s strategic involvement in agriculture is a direct response to its mission to empower young graduates with practical skills under the Feed Ghana Agenda. “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 like high input costs and weak supply chains, Ms. Seddoh unveiled a vertically integrated poultry model that includes feed production, in-house egg production, broiler processing, and packaging. This model, she explained, would not only ensure cost efficiency but also create new income streams for the Authority and provide invaluable hands-on training for service personnel.
In an appeal 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 concluded with a passionate declaration: “Achieving your aim to revolutionise this industry and create tens of thousands of jobs is not just possible—it is non-negotiable.”
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