Poultry farmers ready to supply if hotels buy – Ralph Ayitey

Ralph Ayitey, CEO of Coconut Grove Hotels, urges the hospitality industry and government to buy local poultry. He believes Ghanaian farmers can meet demand if there is a reliable market.

On the Citi Breakfast Show, Mr. Ayitey shared that his hotel sources all food supplies locally. This policy supports the Ghanaian economy and boosts local producers. His hotel exclusively buys chicken from local farmers.

He thinks if more hotels follow this model, it will strengthen Ghana's poultry market. Local producers are ready to increase production but need consistent demand for long-term investment.

Mr. Ayitey suggested that if the government mandates hotels to use local poultry for a month, it would help significantly. He cited Mr. Amin's Farm in Sunyani, which produces over 1 million broilers annually.

Coconut Grove Hotels encourages other hotels to use locally grown chicken. They have calculated their usage at about 7,000 birds per month from just one hotel. With around 35 three- to five-star hotels in Ghana, this could lead to substantial demand.

The poultry value chain needs urgent support to thrive, according to Ralph Ayitey.