Papaye to establish a tourist village

Papaye Fast Food, one of the fastest growing fast food joint in Accra, is establishing a tourist village near Aburi in the Eastern Region as part of activities marking its 10th anniversary which falls this month.

Mr Samir Kalmoni, Executive Chairman of Papaye, told a press conference in Accra that the company was committed to the development and promotion of tourism in Ghana.

"We have, therefore, cleared, grassed and prepared an area of about 150 acres of land for all the necessary structures to be built at Konkonuru, near Aburi," he said.

"Our objective is to promote primarily internal tourism with a lot of sporting, recreational and accommodation facilities," Mr. Kalmoni said, adding that almost all the necessary infrastructures were already in place.

Mr Kalmoni, who is also known as Nana Kwaku Asabre, said Papaye was also in the process of opening two more food joints at Tesano and on the Spintex Road as part of its expansion in Accra.

The company, which started 10 years ago at Osu in Accra, is now worth over seven billion cedis with a lot of expansion works in place, he said.

"We are already processing locally grown chicken for our own consumption. The cold room facility and the processing plants are already operating at the Spintex Road branch.

"With this new expansion we hope to add other varieties such as Jollof rice, Waakye and Ampesi to the menu," he said, adding that the staff strength had increased from 10 when they started operations to over 300.

The secret behind the success story of Papaye, Mr Kalmoni said, had to do with the culture of maintenance "which most business circles in Ghana lacked."

"We make sure that we maintain every machine/equipment that is used immediately it develops a fault."

"Given the kind of problems, difficulties and challenges in the Ghanaian business environment, which have sent other companies packing back home, but which we have faced, confronted and overcome, we have every good reason to celebrate the 10 years of our existence as a company," he said.

Mr Kalmoni said as part of activities marking the celebration of the 10th anniversary a number of activities had been lined up such as a corporate dinner for loyal customers and government executives to be held at the Papaye Village.

"On Saturday December 24, the first 100 patrons of Papaye food joints would receive special packages."

A float will also be held through the principal streets of Accra on Friday 7.

Dr E. A. Ayirebi-Acquah, Managing Director of the company, said Papaye had now grown into a corporate entity to be called "Chain of Papaye Fast Foods".