Chicken Stew Videos Flood Agric Minister’s Phone as Ghanaians Eat Govt Fowls

When Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture launched the “Akuko Nkitinkiti” poultry initiative, the goal was to put birds in every backyard and reduce the nation’s reliance on imported chicken. What the Ministry did not anticipate was that some beneficiaries would put the birds in their cooking pots instead and video the process for the Minister himself.

Minister for Food and Agriculture Eric Opoku made the startling revelation on Thursday before Parliament’s Committee on Assurances, confirming that his WhatsApp inbox has become an unexpected gallery of poultry preparation tutorials.

Addressing the Committee, Eric Opoku admitted that some beneficiaries of the flagship programme have been sending him videos not of healthy birds laying eggs or multiplying, but of themselves slaughtering, plucking, and cooking the poultry for consumption.

“Yes, it is true,” the Minister told the lawmakers. “Some beneficiaries have been sending me videos. Not of the birds growing or reproducing. They are sending videos of themselves slaughtering the chickens and cooking them.”

The revelation drew a mixture of laughter, disbelief, and murmurs from committee members, with one MP jokingly remarking that at least the beneficiaries were showing accountability by providing evidence.

The “Akuko Nkitinkiti” initiative is a cornerstone of the government’s agricultural transformation agenda. Under the scheme, households across all 16 regions receive day-old chicks, feed, and basic training in poultry management.

The long-term objective is to build a sustainable cycle of household protein production, reduce Ghana’s multi-million-dollar poultry import bill, and create income-generating opportunities for families, particularly in rural communities.

The government has committed to distributing millions of birds over the programme’s lifespan, with the ambitious target of cutting poultry imports by at least 30% within five years.

The Agric Minister while expressing concern over the development, also struck a pragmatic tone. He noted that if the consumption of locally reared birds builds a lasting taste for domestic poultry, it could still benefit the local industry in the long run.

“If it builds a taste for locally produced poultry,” he told the committee, “then perhaps it is not a total loss for the domestic industry.”

However, he emphasised that beneficiaries are being strongly encouraged to rear the birds to maturity and reinvest profits from sales rather than consuming the seed stock prematurely.

“When you eat the bird today, you lose the eggs it could have laid and the chicks it could have produced,” he explained. “We are not giving up on the programme. We will continue sensitisation efforts and monitor more closely.”

News of the “chop videos” has ignited lively debate across Ghanaian social media, with the hashtag #AkukoStew trending within hours of the Minister’s disclosure.

While many Ghanaians found humour in the situation, agricultural experts have warned that the trend threatens the programme’s sustainability.

Dr. Kofi Asare, an agricultural economist, told this publication: “The goal was asset-building—creating a flock that multiplies. Eating the foundation stock is counterproductive. It is the equivalent of a farmer eating his planting seeds.”

Next Steps

Minister Opoku has directed district agricultural officers to intensify community education campaigns, teaching beneficiaries the long-term economic benefits of preserving their birds.

He also indicated that the Ministry is reviewing monitoring mechanisms to ensure that future distributions come with clearer terms of engagement, though he stopped short of announcing sanctions for those who have already consumed their poultry.

“We are committed to the success of this programme,” the Minister assured Parliament. “But I must say—some of those videos had very impressive seasoning. If these beneficiaries ever consider catering, they may have a future.”