President John Dramani Mahama has assured the National Service Authority (NSA) of his government’s full support in transforming the Authority’s Papao Farm into a model poultry and training center, promising to provide the necessary resources to expand its operations and maximize its potential.
The President, who paid a working visit to the farm on Friday, September 12, 2025 as part of his commitment to youth empowerment and food security, praised the Authority and its partners for what he described as “an impressive achievement.
“This project is said to have a 100,000-bed capacity. So far, you have 70,000 beds, and I am certain that soon you will reach the full capacity to feed the Ghanaian market. I promise to help you develop this poultry farm into a center of excellence,” President Mahama said.
The President announced that the Papao Farm would not only serve as a production hub, but also as a training and research center for young people venturing into agriculture.
He revealed plans to involve the Ministry of Finance directly in the farm’s development, stressing that the government would not hesitate to release funds for key facilities including a feed plant, vehicles, hostels, and solar power systems.
President Mahama also disclosed that next month government would launch the NkukoNkitikiti Project, a nationwide poultry initiative designed to empower large-scale, medium-scale and household producers.
According to him, the project would supply millions of day-old chicks, feed and vaccines to beneficiaries, while government would buy back matured birds for processing.
“Once ‘NkukoNkotikiti’ begins, we believe that in three years, we will be producing almost 100% of the chicken that we eat in Ghana ourselves. We want fresh, Ghanaian-grown chickens so that our people can live a healthy life,”he stated.
The President emphasised that the project would drastically cut Ghana’s poultry import bill, create jobs and promote healthy consumption by avoiding genetically modified and hormone-injected chicken often imported from abroad.
President Mahama, in his closing remarks, applauded the Authority’s achievements and reiterated his commitment to ensure that the farm becomes a benchmark for modern agriculture in Ghana.
“This is not just about producing chickens. It is about creating jobs, empowering our youth and building a healthier nation. You can be sure we will support you all the way,” the President said.
Earlier, the Executive Director of the National Service Authority, Madam Ruth Dela Seddoh, gave a historical overview of the Papao Farm, tracing its establishment in the early 1990s as a demonstration farm.
She said when the current administration took over in January 2025 the facility had only 2,500 birds.
Today, it accommodates 70,000 comprising 50,000 broilers and 20,000 layers, with plans to reach the 100,000 target.
Madam Seddoh explained that the Authority’s vision was aligned with President Mahama’s Feed Ghana Agenda, which seeks to engage the energy and intelligence of the youth in productive ventures.
She stressed that the farm was designed not only as a production centre, but also as a hub for skills training, technology transfer and research.
“We have designed a comprehensive integrated model that demonstrates a new pathway for poultry production. It reduces costs drastically, improves efficiency and creates sustainable income streams.
“Beyond the figures, this facility will serve as a national centre for practical and vocational training, while creating tens of thousands of direct and indirect jobs.”
The Director, however, appealed for more government support to build a modern three-in-one processing facility, expand hostels to accommodate the growing number of trainees and provide additional vehicles for sales and distribution.
She acknowledged the contributions of partners such as the MasterCard Foundation, Agri-Impact, Rich Soil, Avita Group and Multicorp IOM, which has deployed artificial intelligence monitoring systems to regulate the poultry houses.
By Jennifer Ambolley, Richard Owusu Akyaw
