Ralph Ayitey Urges Local Chicken Production and Informal Sector Formalization
Ralph Ayitey, CEO of Coconut Grove Regency Hotel and National Treasurer of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), has called for urgent action to boost local poultry production in Ghana, emphasizing the economic opportunities it presents.
Speaking at the launch of the 2025 Integrated Business Establishment Survey (IBES) report by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), Ayitey revealed that Ghana consumes approximately 600,000 to 650,000 whole chickens daily—mostly imported. He described this reliance on foreign poultry as alarming, especially given the country’s capacity to produce enough locally.
“This is a wake-up call,” Ayitey stated. “We must ask ourselves why we continue importing such large quantities of chicken when we have the resources to produce them right here.”
According to him, the current state of Ghana’s poultry sector shows a significant gap between potential and performance. He attributed this to a lack of support for local farmers, high production costs, and insufficient government intervention. He stressed the need for coordinated efforts from government, industry players, and farmers to strengthen domestic poultry production.
“We need to empower our farmers with resources, infrastructure, and financial support,” Ayitey explained. “Reducing production costs and providing incentives can help them compete with imported products.”
He also suggested policy measures like import tariffs on foreign poultry and campaigns to encourage Ghanaians to choose locally produced chicken. “It’s time to make eating local chicken popular again,” he said, adding that such a shift would reduce imports, create employment, and strengthen the economy.
Ayitey proposed innovative uses of space in urban settings, noting that poultry farms could be more economically viable than high-rise apartments. “An acre of land used for a six-storey poultry farm could generate more profit than an eight-storey residential block,” he noted.
Beyond poultry, Ayitey also turned attention to Ghana’s informal sector. He urged the government to implement targeted measures to formalize informal businesses, which currently contribute about 35.6% to the nation’s GDP but remain largely outside the tax system due to a lack of accurate data.
He praised the IBES initiative for bridging the data gap between formal and informal enterprises, adding that better data will guide effective policymaking. “This survey helps us understand how many businesses are outside the tax net and what can be done to integrate them,” he said.
Ayitey recommended a multi-agency strategy involving the Ministries of Food and Agriculture, Trade, Industry, and Tourism to support agri-businesses and informal enterprises. He also encouraged the Statistical Service to develop proposals that could attract investment and support for these sectors.
He further emphasized simplifying the process of registering businesses, lowering costs, and offering incentives as essential steps to encourage informal businesses to go formal. “Making the formal sector more appealing is key,” Ayitey said. “With the right support, tax collection becomes easier, and economic growth becomes more inclusive.”
In closing, he called for increased national dialogue on the country’s data needs and emphasized the importance of inclusive economic policies that support local industries and formalize the informal sector.
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