The CEO of Coconut Grove Regency Hotel, Mr Ralph Ayitey, has called on the hospitality industry to join him in promoting Ghanaian products, particularly locally produced poultry.

Speaking at the launch of the Ghana Poultry Festival 2025 in Accra on Tuesday, April 15, at the Tourist Information Centre, Mr Ayitey highlighted the vast potential of the Ghanaian poultry industry in contributing to the country's economy.

He emphasised the importance of serving guests what Ghana produces locally, rather than relying on the same imported chicken from their countries.

"Tourists travel to Ghana to experience Ghana and our food," Ayitey said. "What do these people produce for me to try? Let us be deliberate about it." He noted that his hotel, which has been in operation for over 25 years, has made a conscious decision to serve locally sourced products, including poultry, fruit juices, fresh fish, and furniture.

"We believe that serving our clients with what we produce locally has greatly contributed to us coming this far," Ayitey said. "We've been deliberate about serving local fruit juices, fresh fish from Elmina, and Tilapia from the Volta Lake. And now, we're encouraging all hospitality outfits to help a brother or sister to consume locally raised poultry to save our motherland."

Mr Ayitey highlighted the significant impact that importing poultry has on Ghana's economy, citing the staggering figure of over 600,000 imported chickens consumed daily. "This isn't just about chicken-poultry simply," he said. "It's about jobs. It's about building a Ghana that feeds itself, employs its own, 'its own' pay taxes and believes in its own - let's build our homeland Ghana."

The CEO emphasised that the theme for this year's Poultry Day Festival, "Investing in the Local Poultry Sector: A Means to Creating Jobs, Promoting Agritourism, and Improving Food Security," is not just a slogan, but a strategy for national transformation and renewal. He called on the government to partner with the private sector to support the local poultry industry, including offering tax incentives, affordable financing, and proper cold chain infrastructure.

His plea is not just about promoting local products, but also about creating jobs and stimulating economic growth. "When Ghana's poultry thrives, Ghana wins - on food security, on jobs, on health, on agritourism and economic growth," he said.

"Ghana consumes over 600,000 imported chickens every single day, with an average of 1.2kg… but we know we have 592k unemployed people," Ayitey noted. "My friends, does that add up to you? This isn't just about chicken - poultry simply. It's about jobs. It's about building a Ghana that feeds itself, employs its own, 'its own' pay taxes and believes in its own - let's build our homeland Ghana."

The CEO's call to action is simple: let's make Ghana chicken the preferred choice. "Let's say it loud and proud: Ghana Chicken is Fresh. Healthy. Safe. Ghanaian," he declared. By promoting locally raised poultry, Mr Ayitey, who’s also the National Treasurer of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), believes that Ghana can create a thriving industry that benefits both the economy and the people.

About the Ghana Poultry Day

The Ghana Poultry Day festival’s primary goal is to promote the consumption and patronage of locally produced poultry while highlighting its nutritional and medicinal benefits.

The festival also aims to raise awareness about the poultry sector's role in employment, food security, and economic growth. This initiative is in collaboration with the Ghana Poultry Farmers Association, the Ghana Egg Secretariat, the National Farmers and Fishermen Award Winners Association, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, and various other stakeholders, to promote the consumption of locally produced chicken.

The 5th edition of the festival will take place at the forecourt of the State House on July 1, 2025.