The Mayor of Accra, Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey has cautioned beneficiaries of the government’s Nkoko Nkitinkiti Poultry Initiative against consuming the birds when they mature, stressing that the programme is intended to help residents sell the fowls, generate profit, and boost the local economy.

The Mayor cautioned the beneficiaries in a response to a question from the Assembly Member for the Ngleshie Alata Electoral Area, Hon. Festus Nii Ayi Hayford after the Mayor delivered his sessional address at the first ordinary meeting of the Third session of the Ninth Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) held on Wednesday.

The Mayor said the initiative, introduced by President John Dramani Mahama, was anchored in a clear economic vision and designed to support development through income generation at the household and community levels.

He explained that beneficiaries were expected to rear the birds responsibly to produce eggs and support small-scale enterprise rather than diverting them from the programme’s intended purpose.

To strengthen accountability and protect the integrity of the initiative, the Mayor announced that the AMA would constitute a five-member committee to monitor and assess beneficiaries to ensure compliance and improve results.

He said the committee would undertake field monitoring and verification to determine whether beneficiaries were using the birds as intended, adding that the Assembly would take steps to address any misuse identified.

The Mayor indicated that the birds were about five weeks old and were expected to begin laying eggs within two to three weeks, noting that proper management could expand economic opportunities for beneficiaries and contribute to wider local economic activity in the metropolis.

He expressed appreciation to Members of Parliament and Assembly Members for their continued support and said unity and teamwork would remain essential for delivering results and sustaining development interventions across Accra.