President John Dramani Mahama walked the muddy paths of Papao Poultry Farm in Domekwabenya despite heavy rainfall. Rain splattered on his jacket, boots sank a little into the wet soil, and he smiled at staff who braved the weather to show him progress. That image captured the seriousness behind a simple goal: turn a working farm into a living classroom and research hub that will reshape poultry farming across Ghana.
A farm with room to grow
Today the Papao Poultry Farm houses roughly 70,000 birds. The site has the physical room to house 100,000. Rather than merely expanding bird numbers, the government plans to reimagine the farm as a Centre of Excellence for poultry production, training, and applied research. The vision is practical and layered: modernize infrastructure, add processing capacity for both live birds and packaged chicken, and build on-site hostels for trainees so learning can be immersive.
Training people, not just producing birds
This is not only about making chicken. The project is tightly focused on people. Graduates leaving national service will be invited to train on site. Smallholder farmers, medium scale producers, young entrepreneurs, and university researchers will find courses, demonstration units, and hands-on workshops. By combining production with education and research, the Centre aims to turn knowledge into income. National Service Authority Acting Director-General Ruth Dela Seddoh stressed that the facility will create pathways to employment in agriculture, agribusiness, and even tech roles tied to modern farming.
Modern processing, steady power, and logistic reach
To make the farm commercially viable and self-sustaining, several practical upgrades are planned. Processing plants will be installed to handle both live birds and packaged chicken, raising quality standards and adding value locally. Hostels will let trainees stay on site for concentrated programs. Vehicles will be procured to build a dependable distribution network across the country. Solar power systems will support steady energy supply and reduce operational vulnerability to power interruptions. The combined effect is aimed at an efficient, resilient model that can be replicated in other regions.
Nkokɔ Nkitinkiti Project: a push to seed the sector
During his visit, the president launched the Nkokɔ Nkitinkiti Project, a bold program designed to expand domestic poultry output. The plan includes distributing roughly four million day old chicks to large scale farmers and about three million to medium scale producers. Smaller bundles of chicks with starter feed will be sent to households and young entrepreneurs who want to begin poultry businesses close to home. Importantly, all birds supplied under the project will be vaccinated to lower disease risk and support healthy growth.
A buy-back program will connect producers to government approved processors. Farmers who raise mature birds can sell to that network. Processors will package the chicken under the Nkokɔ Nkitinkiti label. That arrangement guarantees a market for producers while giving consumers access to locally raised, processed chicken.
Economic sense: less import dependence, more local jobs
Ghana currently depends heavily on imported poultry to meet domestic demand. The integrated model planned at Papao intends to shift that balance. Government officials say that within three years the country should be producing most of its poultry needs locally. If that target is met, Ghana will save foreign exchange and keep more of the poultry value chain inside the country. The ripple effects include more jobs, new agribusinesses, and stronger rural economies.
Research, partnerships, and replication
Papao is being designed as a knowledge magnet. Universities, scholars, and development partners will be invited to use the farm for trials, data collection, and introductions of modern practices. The goal is to create evidence based improvements in feed efficiency, disease control, breeding, and waste management. With a successful model on site, officials plan to replicate similar Centres of Excellence in other regions and potentially scale the approach across West Africa.
What this means for young people
Beyond national goals, the project puts the spotlight on individual futures. The Centre will provide practical skills that help graduates move from uncertainty to economic activity. Training will span husbandry, biosecurity, processing, logistics, and agribusiness management. For a young person who wants to start small and grow, access to day old chicks, starter feed, mentorship, and a guaranteed buyer can make the difference between a hobby and a sustainable business.
Quick facts at a glance
- Current flock at Papao: about 70,000 birds.
- Site capacity: up to 100,000 birds.
- Nkokɔ Nkitinkiti distribution: roughly 4 million chicks to large farmers, 3 million to medium producers, plus starter packs for households and youth.
- All distributed chicks will be vaccinated.
- A buy-back program links farmers to government approved processors under the Nkokɔ Nkitinkiti label.
- Upgrades include processing plants, hostels, vehicles for distribution, and solar power systems.
Why this matters
This initiative brings together production, education, and market access in a single place. That combination is rare but powerful. Training that is tied to real production equips participants with skills that translate into immediate income earning opportunities. Research that happens alongside production speeds up adoption of better practices. And a buy-back system reduces market risk for new producers.
Papao has the bones of a modern farm and the appetite to become a center for change. If the plan works as described, Ghana could be on its way to reclaiming its poultry market, creating jobs, and giving a new generation of farmers the tools they need to succeed.
What started as a routine inspection in the rain could be remembered as the moment Ghana pivoted from importing much of its poultry to growing its own. The challenge now is to keep the momentum. With training, reliable logistics, investment in processing, and clear markets for producers, Papao can become more than a farm. It can become a hub where knowledge and opportunity hatch together.
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