Many questions were asked about the sustainability of the ambitious poultry project, dubbed “nkoko nkitinkiti” under the government’s Feed Ghana Program in terms of processing of the birds.
After months of assurances from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture about building a self-sustaining poultry sector, President John Dramami Mahama has broken the ground for the construction of a processing facility to empower farmers, and create thousands of high-quality jobs for the youth.
Located in Bechem in the Ahafo Region, construction of the multi-purpose factory is expected to be complete within 12 months, and promises to restore Ghana’s spot as a leading poultry production hub in West Africa.
While speaking at the ceremony, attended by traditional leaders, farmers and government officials on Thursday November, 27, 2025, President Mahama expressed worry about Ghana’s heavy reliance on import poultry, costing the nation between $300 million and $400 million every year.
“Today’s event is far more than a ceremonial activity. It represents a decisive national step forward towards building an integrated and self-sustaining poultry value chain,” the President declared.
He assured players in the industry that the Bechem facility would directly address the structural challenges that had plagued the local industry for years, especially the high cost of feed, saying it is “the single most important expense in poultry farming”.
Features
Described as an ultra-modern agro-industrial hub, it will be made up of a feed processing plant to produce affordable, high-quality feed, a hygienic meat processing unit meeting domestic and export standards, a training academy for young farmers, cold storage facilities and dormitories.
“This is not merely an industrial plant; it’s a centre of excellence for poultry development, innovation, research and agribusiness incubation,” President Mahama emphasised, adding that the facility would operate continuously to demonstrate a “functional 24-hour economy.”
President Mahama also revealed a policy that seeks to create a ready market for local poultry producers.
“I have directed the School Feeding Programme to procure locally produced poultry for feeding our children in school. This will constitute a significant market for our local poultry industry,” he said.
Besides, another project, “Schools Poultry and Livestock Project” will be launched to encourage educational institutions to own and operate farms for self-consumption and for commerce.
Factory Location
The choice of Bechem in the Ahafo Region, the President explained, was strategic for the project, as the area had emerged as a dynamic food production zone with strong linkages to major poultry hubs in the Bono and Ashanti regions.
The facility is expected to serve as a central processing and training corridor for the surrounding districts.
Meanwhile, the President stated that the Bechem facility was one of several anchor projects under the Feed Ghana Poultry Transformation Plan, which includes the nkoko nkitinkiti backyard poultry project targeting three million beds for women and the youth, and a farmer-to-table project supporting 50 commercial farmers and 500 small and medium-scale enterprises.
The President called for discipline, transparency, and effective management from all stakeholders to ensure the project’s success.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has announced the distribution of 720,000 birds to 13,000 farmers in 12 districts.
