The Ghana International Trade and Finance Conference (GITFiC), known for its work in finance and economic analysis, has recently expanded into agriculture with a significant investment in poultry production. Over the past year, GITFiC has invested more than GH₵ 827,000 in a large-scale poultry egg and meat production facility, which also includes housing and residential components.
Currently housing thousands of birds, GITFiC’s agro-processing project aims to scale up to 30,000 birds in the coming months. At peak production, the facility is capable of producing 5,000 eggs daily, helping to address domestic shortfalls in poultry products. In addition to egg production, the project will also process chicken meat into canned chicken sauce, specifically targeting the AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area) market, according to a statement signed by Mr. Selasi Koffi Ackom, Chief Executive Officer of GITFiC, and shared with the Ghana News Agency in Accra.
The statement highlighted that the project is being overseen by a highly experienced animal production expert from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, who has 30 years of experience in the field. This expert has been assigned to ensure the project’s success and supervise its operations.
Furthermore, negotiations for a specialized poultry processing plant have been completed, and an invoice has been submitted for the necessary equipment. Construction of the processing factory is expected to begin in March 2025. The farm, located in Ghana’s Eastern Region, covers a total of five acres of land.
GITFiC views this project as a revenue-generating venture designed to sustain and accelerate its various programs. The organization, which has grown from a national entity into a continental and now global body, is also driving initiatives like the Global Debt Initiative on Debt Management, Sustainability, and Cancellation. Mr. Ackom emphasized the urgency of increasing internally generated funds (IGF) to avoid the risk of shutting down operations, especially in light of donor fatigue.
International Engagements: GITFiC Expands its Influence
In a separate development, GITFiC CEO Mr. Selasi Koffi Ackom represented Ghana at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa’s high-level intergovernmental committee meeting held in Rabat, Morocco. Mr. Ackom attended the event as a special guest and resource person, using the opportunity to engage in bilateral meetings with senior Moroccan government officials.
During his meeting with Morocco’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Mr. Ackom discussed GITFiC’s support programs for the implementation of AfCFTA. He introduced the AfCFTA Tertiary Students Club and the soon-to-be-launched AfCFTA Curriculum for Africa’s tertiary schools. Both parties also explored ways to enhance trade relations between Ghana and Morocco. As a result, the Moroccan officials recommended the formation of a joint committee to identify and develop trade opportunities under the AfCFTA’s Guided Trade Initiative. The creation of this committee, to be chaired by GITFiC, is already underway.
Additionally, Mr. Ackom met with officials from Morocco’s Ministry of Economy and Finance to discuss GITFiC’s Global Debt Initiative in collaboration with the United Nations and the African Development Bank (AfDB). He invited the Kingdom of Morocco to join the initiative and to consider hosting the second meeting in Rabat next year. This proposal was met with significant interest, and discussions on the next steps are ongoing. GITFiC has also communicated this development to Ghana’s Ministry of Trade and Industry.
Through its poultry venture and international engagements, GITFiC is demonstrating a commitment to driving economic growth, both domestically and across the African continent.
