THE FAILURE OF THE NDC’S NKOKO NKITINKITI PROGRAMME: WHY GHANAIANS SEE NO VALUE IN THE NDC’S EMPTY PROMISES
The ‘Nkoko Nkitinkiti’(small-chicks) policy touted by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as a cornerstone of their agricultural strategy remains an idea without impact, a slogan without execution, and an embarrassment to policy coherence in Ghana today. Plainly put: the ordinary Ghanaian does not understand this policy because reality shows it has not been actualized in any meaningful way.
When the NDC campaigned on ‘Nkoko Nkitinkiti’, the promise was simple, use poultry support to uplift food security, expand agribusiness, and empower farmers. But a year after winning power in December 2024, there is no evidence of any nationwide rollout, structured delivery mechanism, or measurable outcome tied to this policy. Ghanaians are left asking: What have you done about it? How is it being implemented? And who exactly benefits from it?
This confusion is not accidental. Even seasoned political analysts and ordinary citizens struggle to define what ‘Nkoko Nkitinkiti’ truly means outside political rallies. Many simply dismiss it as a catchy phrase and not a roadmap to increased productivity, employment, or food self-sufficiency. In contrast, the NPP has structured, documented, and broadly understood policies like Planting for Food and Jobs, which distributed millions of seedlings, subsidized fertilizers, and mechanization support, delivering tangible results for farmers between 2017–2020. Nkokɔ Nketenkete has nothing similar to show.
The NDC government’s flagship economic programme(the 24-Hour Economy Policy) is already struggling for clarity in its own right. Designed to stimulate enterprise and extend working hours across sectors, the details remain abstract to many Ghanaians, let alone the ‘Nkoko Nkitinkiti’ programme that is often conflated with it. Without clear definitions, measurable targets, or sectoral benchmarks (e.g., number of farmers served, poultry outputs increased, or markets accessed), the policy remains a slogan, not a strategy.
In contrast, the NPP’s track record is data-driven and publicly documented. Between 2017 and 2024, programmes in agriculture saw to the distribution of thousands of fowls under related initiatives, proving that structured livestock support can be done when properly planned.
Today, what should matter to every Ghanaian is measurable progress. Productivity. Job creation. Real incomes. The ‘Nkoko Nkitinkiti’ policy of the NDC, shrouded in ambiguity and bereft of implementation, fails on all counts. As policies go, it is of no essence if ordinary Ghanaians cannot see, understand, or benefit from it.
It is time for the NDC to stop hiding behind buzzwords and start delivering policies grounded in clear objectives, transparent execution, measurable targets, and real results for farmers and the economy. Ghana deserves no less.
By: Mr Blessing Mantey
