The Ashanti Regional Organizer of the Poultry Farmers Association and Chief Executive Officer of Senyah Farms, Mr. Senyah, has expressed concern over the implementation of the government’s “Nkokɔ Nketenkete” initiative under the Feed Ghana Programme.
According to Mr. Senyah, although the project itself is a commendable initiative aimed at boosting poultry production in the country, those responsible for implementing it have failed to manage it properly and have not supported the President’s vision for the programme.
He explained that the funds allocated for the project should have been treated as a revolving fund.
Under such an arrangement, beneficiaries would repay the funds after production so the money could be reinvested into new projects, creating a sustainable and continuous funding cycle.
He argued that if the funds were not going to be recovered for reinvestment, then they might as well have been given freely to members of the NDC.
Mr. Senyah who is also chairman for Afigya Kwabre South Poultry Farmers Association further stressed that beneficiaries who receive day-old chicks must be given proper technical training, particularly in feeding and vaccination, to ensure the birds are raised successfully.
He suggested that once the broiler chickens, which are bred specifically for meat production, reach maturity, the government should purchase them from the farmers and pay them.
After that, he said, the farmers should be given another batch of chicks to continue production.
Quoting a report by the Mastercard Foundation, Mr. Senyah noted that Ghana imports the equivalent of about 224 million frozen chickens annually.
He said the country aims to produce at least one out of every four chickens consumed locally, which translates to about 60 million birds.
He questioned how the country could reach such a target when the birds under the programme are distributed for free without a proper recovery or reinvestment system.
Mr. Senyah also called for accountability from the authorities responsible for distributing the chicks, particularly the District Assemblies, arguing that their handling of the project has caused financial losses to the country.
On appointments to public positions, he urged the President to appoint qualified and knowledgeable individuals to key roles to help advance national development.
He emphasized that individuals should be selected based on competence and expertise.
He questioned the rationale behind appointing people without relevant knowledge to critical sectors, asking why the country has universities and training colleges if qualified professionals are not given the opportunity to serve in their areas of expertise.
Mr. Senyah also advised the President to engage properly with poultry associations, noting that members of the association are actively working in the field and possess practical knowledge that could help prevent challenges in implementing such programmes.
story by Henry Ameyaw
