The Veterinary Medical Association has called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, veterinary professionals and other stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the government’s Nkoko Nkitinkiti programme.
Speaking at the JoyNews Business Roundtable on Ghana’s poultry industry on Friday, July 17, Dr Kwao Pecku said the initiative has the potential to transform the sector but warned that its success would depend on effective implementation and broad stakeholder participation.
The roundtable was held under the theme, “Can Ghana Feed Itself? The Future of Poultry Beyond Nkoko Nkitinkiti.”
Stakeholder involvement is key
Dr Pecku said the association is committed to supporting government policies aimed at strengthening the poultry industry.
“It is our goal to ensure that every government policy, such as Nkoko Nkitinkiti, succeeds, unlike other policies that have come and gone,” he said.
He explained that previous interventions failed largely because of weak animal health management systems and recurring disease outbreaks.
“These are very brilliant policies if you look at the structures that have been put in place, but now it comes to the point of implementation. If you look at the key challenges in the poultry industry, weak animal health management systems, and all of that, most of these policies have not succeeded because of outbreaks of diseases,” he said.
Veterinary professionals must be included
Dr Pecku said veterinary professionals are often excluded from the implementation of government programmes, especially at the district and community levels.
“The key stakeholders are sometimes left out. We are not being involved. Most of the policies, when it comes to the district level and community level, do not have full participation,” he said.
He also pointed to inadequate staffing and limited logistics as major obstacles to effective monitoring and implementation.
“There are a lot of logistical constraints when we talk about staffing and equipment needed to monitor most of these programmes,” he added.
Call for stronger partnerships
Dr Pecku stressed that ensuring the success of the Nkoko Nkitinkiti programme requires coordinated efforts from all stakeholders rather than relying solely on the Veterinary Services Directorate.
“These policies are very brilliant, but a lot of things have to be done. It is not just the veterinary services; we are also looking at other stakeholders who play a very vital role in these government policies,” he said.
He urged stronger collaboration between government agencies, veterinary professionals and stakeholders at the district and community levels.
“I think much has to be done if we want to see this policy succeed and help our dear nation. The collaboration has not really been there when it comes to the district and local levels, and that has really affected these policies,” Dr Pecku said.
Poultry production gap remains wide
Ghana consumes an estimated 452,100 tonnes of chicken each year but produces only about 60,000 tonnes locally.
The shortfall means about 87 per cent of the country’s chicken consumption is met through imports. Closing the gap would require Ghana to raise an estimated 226 million birds annually—about 7.5 times the current domestic output of around 30 million birds.
