Mahama to Jobless Nurses, Teachers: “Forget Postings, Farm Like Me” – Nkoko Nketenkete Success Story Goes Viral
President John Dramani Mahama delivered a signature blend of humor and blunt advice to thousands of unemployed nurses and teachers at Ghana’s 41st National Farmers’ Day in Ho, urging them to abandon hopes of government postings and embrace farming instead – “because I’m a farmer too.”
Addressing a capacity crowd at the Ho Sports Stadium, the President tackled the backlog of over 100,000 trained health and education professionals stalled by funding shortages.
“Nurses and teachers awaiting postings should not expect them. They should go into farming – others are succeeding,” Mahama declared, to laughter and applause. “I, as President, am also a farmer.”
He highlighted the Nkoko Nketenkete poultry project, sharing the story of a trained nurse who joined the initiative and earned GH¢100,000 in profit.
“She said she no longer needs a nursing post – farming is working for her,” Mahama recounted.
The quip instantly went viral, with social media users branding it a classic “Baba Amando jab” after a popular Facebook post captured the moment.
Nkoko Nketenkete: From Campaign Gaffe to National Program
Launched on November 12, 2025 in Kumasi, the flagship poultry initiative under the Feed Ghana Programme began as a 2024 campaign slip – Mahama meant to say Nkoko Mma (“beautiful chickens”) but said “Nkoko Nketenkete” (“chickens everywhere”) instead. The name stuck.
720,000+ chicks distributed to 13,000 farmers across 12 districts (Tamale, Wa, Bawku, etc.)
Targets 20,000 beneficiaries over four years
Projected 1.7 million jobs (direct/indirect)
New poultry processing factory in Bechem (sod-cutting: Nov 27)
3 million birds expected market-ready in six weeks
With agriculture employing 40% of Ghanaians, the Mahama administration – led by Deputy Minister John Dumelo – is pushing value addition amid food surpluses and a $350 million annual poultry import bill.
Critics warn of long-term gaps in healthcare and education staffing. Supporters hail the message as pragmatic: “Farming isn’t failure – it’s fortune,” one attendee said.
As top farmers received national awards, Mahama’s punchline lingered: In a nation of deferred dreams, the soil may be the real job posting.
