“They Might Eat the Chickens” – Charles Owusu Warns Nkukɔ Nkitinkiti Risks Collapse Without Stronger Support
Former Forestry Commission official Charles Owusu has sounded the alarm on the government’s flagship Nkukɔ Nkitinkiti poultry initiative, cautioning that beneficiaries may end up consuming the birds if adequate support systems are not provided.
Speaking on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo morning show, Owusu welcomed the concept but insisted that simply distributing 50 chicks per household will not guarantee success.
“If care is not taken, they will eat all the fowls because they can’t die of hunger… they might not even have money to buy the feed,” he warned.
He highlighted critical gaps the policy must address:
- High cost of poultry feed
- Lack of proper housing for birds
- Limited land access for small-scale farmers
- Absence of a robust monitoring and extension service framework
“The concept is good, but I will plead with the President to go beyond just giving them the chicks. Engage existing poultry farmers and see how he can help them. How do you even monitor this household poultry farming?” Owusu asked.
About Nkukɔ Nkitinkiti Launched by the Mahama government, the programme aims to distribute chickens, feed, and technical support to 60,000 households across all 276 constituencies. The goal is to boost local chicken production, create jobs, and slash Ghana’s $300+ million annual frozen chicken import bill.
While supporters hail it as a game-changer for food security and rural livelihoods, critics like Charles Owusu argue that without sustained inputs (subsidised feed, veterinary services, and market linkages), the initiative risks becoming a short-term handout rather than a sustainable micro-business model.
Government officials have yet to respond to the concerns, but sources say a detailed implementation roadmap will be unveiled this week.
