As Ghana’s Deputy Minister for Agriculture, John Dumelo says the government’s focus on food security and youth employment is finally taking root.
Speaking after his visit from Washington, D.C., where he attended the IMF and World Bank annual meetings, he revealed that his ministry is working closely with global partners to strengthen local production and reduce imports.
One of his flagship programs, dubbed the KIT initiative, aims to provide 10,000 poultry birds per constituency, targeting 200 households each.
“It’s designed to create jobs, spark interest in poultry, and reduce our dependence on imported products,” Dumelo explained in an interview on Joy News monitored by MyNewsGh.
“Every household will get vaccinated birds and feed. Within eight to nine weeks, they can sell or restock, creating a cycle of local production.”
He emphasised that the plan will be closely monitored to avoid partisan distribution. “We’re purchasing three million birds, and each constituency will receive its allocation transparently,” he said. “This isn’t slogan politics—it’s about results.”
Dumelo also touched on the Feed Ghana project, an initiative encouraging schools, churches, and institutions to cultivate food for domestic use and supply.
“If a thousand senior high schools each grow just ten acres of maize, that’s ten thousand acres in a year,” he projected. “Imagine adding churches and communities—our import bills would drop dramatically.”
He said government support includes tractors, irrigation pumps, and fertilizers for committed groups and institutions.
“We’re not doing trial and error,” Dumelo said. “We want to partner serious farmers, schools, and even churches that show readiness. This is how we’ll make agriculture a real engine for growth.”
