The sale of domestic birds in the Northern Region is expected to rise during the African Nations Cup tournament to be held in Ghana from January 20 to February 10 2008.

An estimated 2000 guinea fowls would be needed daily to feed football fans who will throng Tamale to watch teams in Group D play at the new Tamale stadium. The demand for ordinary poultry products is also expected to rise during the 20-day tournament.

The Northern Regional Manager of the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB), Mr. William Ayambire, who disclosed this in Tamale last Wednesday, at a training proramme for operators in the hospitality industry within the Tamale Metropolis, said the impending tournament will provide a big business opportunity for all operators including sellers of guinea fowls.

The six-day training workshop was organised by the GTB in collaboration with the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly and the Tamale Venue Organising Committee (TVOC). The three core areas of training at the workshop were food and beverage service, housekeeping and front desk office operation. Other areas included first aid, food safety, fire prevention, hygiene and sanitation and security.

"The visiting fans would need accommodation, food, rest stops and places of convenience. Tour guides would have a lot of work to do. Not to talk of dealers in handicrafts. We need to prepare ourselves," Mr Ayambire indicated.

Guinea fowl is a very popular delicacy in the northern sector of the country. Even though it is reared by most people in rural communities in the area, the people rarely eat the bird because they think it is more useful to sell to make money.

The bird is usually boiled, grilled or fried but a majority of people prefer the grilled one which goes well with a mixture of hot spices.

Indeed, the meat has become so popular that a lot of butchers have shifted from their regular shops to selling the delicacy in open spaces. During seminars or workshops in Tamale, visitors can be seen queuing to buy the delicacy.

The most popular area to buy grilled guinea fowl in Tamale is the Mba Yahaya Spot. The place usually begins business by 1pm and closes when the meat is finished which is often after midnight.

According to the owner of the spot, Mah Abdulai Yahaya, he sells between 150 to 200 birds a day. Mah Yahaya, who has been in the business for close to 30 years, also has other outlets at some popular spots for his growing customers.

He explained that even though he rears the birds himself, he still sources for more from surrounding villages to complement his stock.
On how he was preparing to face the challenges during the Ghana 2008, he said: "I intend to travel to every nook and cranny of the three regions to buy the birds as there would certainly be pressure on us to serve our august visitors for the period that they would stay in Tamale.”


Source: Graphic Sports