As Ghana continues to grapple with rising youth unemployment—currently affecting over 1.5 million young people—stakeholders are rallying behind new initiatives aimed at creating sustainable jobs.
One of the most talked-about is the Nkoko Nkentenkente Poultry Farming Program, part of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government’s plan to drive youth employment and rural economic development.
A key voice lending support is the Ashanti Regional Poultry Farmers Association, which is advocating for a new approach to project financing.
The association is calling on the government to channel funds earmarked for the poultry initiative directly through rural banks, rather than large anchor farms.
Speaking to the media in Aduamoah, Afigya Kwabre East, the Organiser of the Ashanti Regional Poultry Farmers Association and CEO of Senya Farms, Mr. John Senya, emphasized the importance of empowering grassroots poultry farmers and fostering a more inclusive and transparent funding structure.
He criticized previous funding strategies that primarily favored large-scale anchor farms, arguing that such models excluded many potential small-scale beneficiaries.
In the association’s proposed version of the Nkoko Nkentenkente initiative, contract outgrower farmers would be engaged under a system that promotes accountability and equitable resource distribution.
The proposal also recommends the establishment of a special loan facility to support existing farms looking to scale up their operations.
The Nkoko Nkentenkente initiative is expected to be a pillar of the government’s broader 24-hour economy agenda, aimed at revitalizing key sectors through job creation and sustained productivity.
As the policy framework takes shape, many now await how effectively such agricultural initiatives will be rolled out on the ground.
Stakeholders believe that strong public-private collaboration, along with improved funding mechanisms, will be essential to turning bold policy ambitions into lasting economic impact.
Ghana|Atinkaonline.com| Obofo Michael
