Ghana’s hospitality sector is increasingly shaped by the tension between globalisation and growing interest in culturally rooted, sustainable food experiences. This study examined how sustainable culinary practices can bridge traditional Ghanaian food heritage and the operational realities of modern hospitality. A mixed-methods, cross-sectional design was used; data were collected from 40 establishments across Accra, Kumasi, Cape Coast, and Takoradi through surveys, interviews, menu analysis, and non-participant observation. Findings showed Ghanaian cuisine carries strong cultural and sustainability potential, yet its integration into formal hospitality remains uneven. Ghanaian dishes appear widely but rarely occupy central menu positions, particularly in star hotels where international items dominate. Local sourcing is robust for vegetables, tubers, and fish but less reliable for grains and meats, reinforcing cautious menu planning. Sustainability practices exist but are inconsistently applied, with waste monitoring and sustainability-driven menu design remaining weak. Guest interest and environmentally conscious tourists emerge as powerful motivators, alongside notable staff pride in heritage cuisine. Key barriers include labour-intensive traditional preparations, skills gaps, supply inconsistencies, and conservative management assumptions. The study proposes the Sustainable Culinary Bridge Framework, which shows that while cultural inputs are strong, mediating systems such as skills, procurement structures, and workflow design determine whether heritage cuisine can support sustainability goals. Strengthening these mediators offers a practical pathway for positioning Ghanaian cuisine as both a cultural asset and a strategic driver of sustainable hospitality.

Authors:
Abena Sekyere, Akenten Appiah Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Ghana
Faustina Busumbru, Saint Louis College of Education, Ghana
Agnes Abankwah, Wesley College of Education, Ghana

About the Presenter(s)
Ms Abena Sekyere is a University Assistant Professor/Lecturer at Akenten Appiah Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development in Ghana

See this presentation on the full schedule – Sunday Schedule

Bookmark