By Patrick Ofoe Nudzi
Accra, March 20, GNA – The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) says it is employing all strategies to make Ghana an indigenous food hub and give her foods an international identity to spur socioeconomic growth.
Mrs Marilyn Maame Efua Houadjeto, the Chief Executive Officer, GTA, said the Independence Anniversary Food Fair at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, christened: “Taste 68 @ 68”, is part of strategies to promote Ghanaian meals and create value for them.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) after the event, Mrs Houadjeto said the indigenous Ghanaian dishes were healthy, delicious and gave authentic experiences that must be championed to become household names like the infamous Ghanaian jollof.
“I believe that in our homes, we all eat Ghanaian dishes but what we do not know is the value of what we eat. We are promoting them locally and internationally to get others, especially foreigners and tourists, to enjoy our foods,” she said.
Mrs Houadjeto said food played a crucial role in tourism promotion by offering tourists unique and authentic experiences, showcasing local culture, stimulating local economies and making a destination more attractive and memorable.
She commended the display of the of over 68 indigenous foods, snacks and drinks with their aesthetic garnishment and aroma that sent everyone salivating before the feast began.
“Our local gravy with cocoyam or sweet potato and many other meals are highly nutritious. We need to make these foods household names on the local international stage. Mexicans, Indians and Chinese have their food, and it is all part of their identity and tourism,” she said.
The Chief Executive urged homes to prioritise cooking local foods and called on mothers in particular to expose their children to local dishes as it seemed that the young generation had chosen foreign dishes over indigenous ones.
The Taste 68 @ 68 event, which lived up to the billing brought together all segments of the population and featured celebrities jollof cooking competition, cultural dances and fun games like “Owaare” and draught.
Celebrities that took part in the jollof cooking competition included Victoria Lebene, Actress and Entrepreneur; Uncle Ato, Gospel Musician; Okyeame Kwame, Popular Hiplife Musician, and Joyce Blessing, Gospel Musician with Okyeame Kwame winning the ultimate prize.
Madam Victoria Lebene, who emerged as the first runner up, said the event was an incredible one that depicted culture and tradition, adding that it would take all, individually to come together and showcase Ghana’s cultural heritage.
She said though she was beaten to the best position by Okyeame Kwame’s vegan jollof rice, which was a climate-resilient food, her fish jollof, made with varieties of fish, got consumers “to bite their tongue.”
“The fish has the amino acid, fatty acids among other nutrients. It was one thing that encouraged me to cook the jollof. We get tired of meat and chicken so this time, I used salmon, herrings and others with some spices and herbs,” she said.
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