Accra: Some social media users have criticised President John Dramani Mahama following his State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered in Parliament on Friday, February 27, 2026. During the address, the President highlighted his government's flagship poultry revitalisation programme, Nkoko Nkitinkiti, aimed at boosting local poultry production and reducing Ghana's heavy dependence on imported frozen chicken.
According to Ghana Web, under Phase One of the programme, each beneficiary is expected to receive 50 chicks, feed support, and technical guidance to ensure sustainability. The broader initiative is designed not only as a job-creation intervention but also as a deliberate policy to cut down the country's estimated $300-$400 million annual poultry import bill. The President mentioned that the programme will involve the distribution of three million poultry birds nationwide.
However, controversy erupted after President Mahama stated that 720 birds had been distributed to 13,000 farmers during the pilot phase, a figure that quickly sparked debate on social media. Many users questioned the arithmetic behind the claim, asking how 720 birds could be shared among 13,000 farmers. One user wrote, 'Pathological liar. How can you distribute 720 birds for 13,000 farmers?' Another commented, 'President Mahama says he distributed 720 birds to 13,000 farmers. How will 13,000 people share 720 birds? This man can lie.'
Several other comments described the claim as misleading and questioned the accuracy of the figures presented during the address. In his speech, the President stated, 'Ghana has launched a comprehensive poultry farm-to-table project. This comprises 50 anchor commercial farmers producing four million birds, 500 SMEs producing three million birds, and a small-scale backyard poultry programme targeting three million birds nationwide, with emphasis on women and young people.'
Meanwhile, previous data indicates that the figure the President may have intended to reference was 720,000 birds and not 720, suggesting a possible slip of the tongue during the address.