People & Lifestyle
A Weekend of Ghanaian Food Festivals: Consolidating the Gains and Improving the Shortfalls
Local cuisines play significant roles in attracting tourists to destinations. As a result, several food festivals have emerged around the world, particularly because of the increasing interest and growth in food tourism (Williams, Williams Jr and Omar, 2014). Mention can be made of the “Italian Cuisines Week”, “Taste of Malaysia Festival”, “Taiwan Culinary Exhibition”, Oktoberfest, Germany, and Tulum Taste of Mexico, among others. In Africa, the “Logos Food Festival”, “Nairobi Restaurant Week”, “Letlhafula Food Festival” in Botswana can be cited.
In Ghana, since the first edition of the Kenkey Festival in March 2016, a number of other food festivals have emerged and prominent among them is the Fufu Festival. After a 2-year break as a result of the Covid-19 restrictions, the 6th edition of the Kenkey Festival was organised on Saturday 4th March 2023, at Mantse Agbona, Jamestown, Accra, and for the first time, Gↄbε Festival was also organised at Tetteh Quarshie Interchange, Accra, and Waakye Summit at Mmofra Place, Dzorwulu and also on the 6th of March, Akple Festival was also organised at the same venue. I must say that I attended all three festivals on Saturday and had a good time and more importantly, made some observations that will help improve and sustain the food festivals to achieve gastronomic results.
The Gains
Attendance at all the festivals was great. As argued by Bestor (2014), the aim of gastronomic events is to promote local public participation, domestic consumption, and tourism, to generate social support that can be used to attract international tourists. It is satisfying to see people from different parts of the country travel to Accra to celebrate and enjoy Ghanaian culinary art. In fact, several radio personalities, celebrities, and other influential people attended the festivals. Indeed, a study by Smith and Fink (2015) indicates that influential people have the power of compliance to advocacy messages. As influential personalities attend these events and help in the promotion of the food festivals, some sections of the public may develop an interest in these food festivals because their favourite public personalities are also attending.
Also, the packaging and hygiene of the cuisines were generally good. The cultural makeup of cuisines does not only include the ingredients and the methods of cooking, but also how they are served and eaten. At the Kenkey Festival, some vendors served the kenkey in earthenware bowls (asanka) to further depict authentic Ghanaian culinary culture. Furthermore, vendors at the Gↄbε and Waakye Festival served their various recipes on environmentally sustainable green leaves which will help reduce plastic waste pollution.
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Also, the exhibition and sale of local drinks such as asana, sobolo, and palm wine, among others are also laudable as it goes a long way to promote the consumption of authentic locally-made beverages.
The Shortfalls
The main challenge cited by the majority of the people I engaged at the festivals was the cost of the food. The food at the Kenkey and Waakye Summit, to their estimation, was too expensive. Also, while attendance at the Kenkey Festival was free, a ball of kenkey and fish which is sold for Ghc3 and Ghc5 on a normal day was sold for Ghc5 and Ghc10 respectively. An egg was sold for Ghc5 at almost all the festivals. The Situation at the Waakye Summit was more serious. One is expected to pay an entrance fee of Ghc20 and needs between Ghc40 to Ghc60 to buy Waakye with other accompaniments. Surprisingly, Akple Festival was organised at the same venue and a gate fee of Ghc30 and Ghc50 was charged. Some vendors indicated that they were charged some amounts of money for their stands so they had to increase the price of the foods in order not to run at a loss. Their justification for the pricing of the food comes as a call to organisers and other stakeholders to explore possible measures to put in place to reduce the cost of the food during food festivals. This is important because a study by Choe and Kim (2018) analysed comments made by attendants of food events and concluded that people develop positive attitudes toward local food events and are willing to return if they find the price more economical. If we want massive public participation in our food festivals, then the price of the foods must be reasonable to enable people from all economic backgrounds to buy them.
Furthermore, from observation, it appeared that organising three food festivals concurrently had some negative impact on the festivals. The Waakye and Gↄbε festivals seemed to have more sponsorship more from major companies such as Malta Guinness Ghana and Maggi Ghana, while the was no major sponsorship for the Kenkey Fest. One of the organisers of the Kenkey Fest indicated that some companies who agreed to sponsor them failed to turn up on the day of the festival but rather went to the other two festivals. More so, there was little education on the historical and cultural background of the foods during the festivals. As argued by Haynes (2015), local foods are essential elements of local culture. Food festivals represent the cultural, educational, and leisure resources of an area (Haynes, 2015). Organisers should, therefore, make it a point to educate attendees on the historical and cultural backgrounds of the foods as it will go a long way to help promote and sustain the culinary culture of the country.
Finally, although there was some publicity of the festival on radio and social media, it appears that they were largely confined to the capital city. Gↄbε Festival seemed to be the most publicised of the four festivals probably because of 3FM’s national coverage. There is a need for more publicity, especially on Social Media platforms to ensure more public participation in the festivals.
Going Forward
The idea to promote Ghanaian cuisine through food festivals is commendable as it provides a huge platform for the celebration of Ghanaian culinary heritage. However, going forward, there is a need for the Ghana Tourism Authority and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to engage and support the organisers of the various festivals to explore the possibility of organising a nationwide annual Ghanaian Cuisine Week within which the various food festivals would be organised across all the regional capitals. It is likely that other food festivals are going to come up and considering the variety of local cuisines we have in Ghana, it will be practically impossible to allocate days for all food festivals in the future. That is why Ghanaian Cuisines Week seems the best approach. The Ministries and other stakeholders can secure a venue, for example, Black Star Square for the week-long Ghanaian cuisines week where various local cuisines would be exhibited and sold at reasonable prices for the attendees. This will bring varieties of local cuisines under one umbrella to celebrate and promote the culinary culture of various ethnic groups in the country.
Also, Ghanaian missions abroad should also be encouraged to organise food exhibitions and other food-related events during the Ghanaian Cuisines Week to promote Ghanaian culinary culture to foreign nationals. The Ghanaian Cuisines Week will not only help to promote varieties of local foods but will also help to promote other local foods that are not very popular. Furthermore, it will also help to generate local public support that can be used to attract tourists from within and outside the country. Food has become an important instrument of soft power that is used to attract people to destinations and food festivals are some of the ways by which food soft power is employed. More importantly, food festivals help in the sustainability and projection of a country’s culinary heritage. Therefore, a proper understanding of food soft power will help stakeholders to employ it effectively to achieve the intended results. Perhaps these food festivals may be our new source of tourist attraction.
Samuel Nani
Researcher in food diplomacy
Email: samuel.nani@stu.ucc.edu.gh
Phone: 0247153586
References
Bestor, T. (2014). Most Favoured Nation Status: The Gastrodiplomacy of Japan’s Global Promotion of Cuisine. Public Diplomacy Magazine, 59-62.
Choe, J. Y. J., & Kim, S. S. (2018). Effects of tourists’ local food consumption value on attitude, food destination image, and behavioral intention. International journal of hospitality management, 71, 1-10.
Haynes, N. (2015). Food fairs and festivals. The SAGE encyclopedia of food issues, 565-569.
Smith, R. A. & Fink, E. L. (2015). Understanding the influential people and social structures shaping compliance. Journal of Social Structure, 16(4), 1-15.
Williams, H. A., Williams Jr, R. L., & Omar, M. (2014). Gastro-tourism as destination branding in emerging markets. International Journal of Leisure and Tourism Marketing, 4(1), 1-18.
People & Lifestyle
HAVE YOUR BATH AT LEAST TWICE DAILY DURING MENSTRUATION – DIANA HOPESON ADMONISHES YOUNG GIRLS
Mrs Diana Hopeson ( Akiwumi ) the formal MUSIGA president and a renowned gospel musician who made her mark in the early 90s with hit songs winning many National and International awards admonishes young girls to try take their bath at least two times daily during their menstrual cycle.
Joining over 400 both young girls and boys at the Ashiaman Senior High School to mark this years World Menstrual Hygiene Day Commemoration, she stressed on the need for a complete healthier menstrual management by these teenage girls bearing in mind that bathing their body is an essential part of menstrual hygiene.
A collaborative effort from the Bonabear Foundation Ghana under the auspices of the Special Monitoring Missions of the International Human Rights Commission Ghana in partnership with the SHEP Department of the Ashaiman Municipal Education Directorate of the Ghana Education Service and WO YE BRA Schools Project this year engaged the Pupils of the AshaiSec to mark the all important date on the UN calendar.
Mrs Hopeson on the theme of this years commemoration dubbed “ Making Menstruation a normal Fact of Life by 2030” also explained on the main need for every girl to know that “Menstruation leads to Procreation” therefore every growing girl must not be ashamed of her Menstruation and that it’s a normal thing. She lamented on how she felt during her “Menarche” at age 12 and the funny experiences she went through that time. Mrs Hopeson has been the project Ambassador two years running to the MENSTRUATE 2 PROCREATE initiative with a few of her friends mobilizing support for the project.
HAVE YOUR BATH AT LEAST TWICE DAILY DURING MENSTRUATION – DIANA HOPESON ADMONISHES YOUNG GIRLS
The Founder and the Project Lead of the Bonabear Foundation Ghana who doubles as the Commissioner for the Special Monitoring Missions of IHRC Ghana- Amb Dr Bernard Kofi Bonarparte in his speech added his voice to the call to totally scrap off all Taxes on Sanitary Materials and pleaded with the Government to consider implementing policies to make Sanitary materials in the Schools more accessible and free mostly in deprived communities a cross the country.
He reiterated that , it is about time Menstruation is considered as a Human Rights issue and as such the need to put in measures to ensure every girl is not denied of this Right. The need to easy access to water in the various Schools is also a contributing factor for ensuring a clean , safe and healthier society.
HAVE YOUR BATH AT LEAST TWICE DAILY DURING MENSTRUATION – DIANA HOPESON ADMONISHES YOUNG GIRLS
The Amb , also called on various corporate bodies to partner organizations and civil societies that have embarked on this journey to ensure that Ghana does not fail to achieve the agenda 2030 of the UNSDG.
All participants received free Disposable and Reusable Pads and were trained on the management of those with live demonstration from the male students of the School by the help of the School Nurse and the Lead Facilitator for the WO YE BRA SCHOOL Project-Ms Jennifer Moffat as The head Mistress of the School Madam Jemimah Quarshie and her staff received the team warmly.
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In August of 2023 nearing the Annual Homowo Festival; The Ghanaian boxing champion who resides in Baltimore, Maryland and serial entrepreneur will be returning back to his homeland (Ghana). Yahu Blackwell is a Ghanaian whose family lineage is among those that was taken as slaves at the “Cape Coast Castle” and the “Elmina Castle” in Ghana. (Trans Atlantic Slave Trade). (more…)
People & Lifestyle
Zeepay MD crowned Africa Fintech Leader of the Year two times running at Ghana CEO Summit 2023
Andrew Takyi-Appiah, the Managing Director (MD) of Zeepay, a leading mobile financial services company, has emerged Africa’s Fintech Leader of the Year for the second year in a row at the recently held 2023 edition of the CEO Summit.
The prestigious award was presented to him before a gathering of more than 500 of his peers, was an acknowledgement of his instrumental role in the growth and advancement of Sub-Saharan Africa’s economic landscape.
Mr. Takyi-Appiah emerged victorious amidst stiff competition from prominent figures in the fintech industry, and the award reflects the high satisfaction of users with Zeepay’s platforms and services.
Expressing his gratitude at the event which had as its theme: ‘Economic Sovereignty, Sustainable Corporate Governance, Digital Industrial Transformation: New Paths for Growth and Prosperity. A Private-Public Sector CEO Dialogue & Learning’, Mr. Takyi-Appiah stated, “Winning this award is a testament to all that African youth are Capable of and have what it takes to build global business. It means that we the youth in Ghana must be taken seriously as we have indeed taken our destiny into our hands to contribute to build a better Ghana.”
Prior to co-founding Zeepay in 2016, Mr. Takyi-Appiah held key positions at renowned organizations such as UT Bank Ghana, PwC Ghana, PwC UK, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, and GTBank.
With an annual turnover of approximately US$900 million as of 2021, Zeepay has established itself as the largest cross-border remittance aggregator in Africa. Mr. Takyi-Appiah emphasized that this accolade is a testament to the strength of Ghana’s fintech regulations and legal systems, which have contributed to the rise of companies like Zeepay.
“Our customers should expect an improved business, an increase in our distribution network and availability. Going forward our customers should expect affordability in terms of reduced cash-out fees and more product innovation. I would like to dedicate the award to all our customers and staff for believing in the dream and driving it to this growth. I feel great and excited about the additional new markets we have added to the mobile money business,” Mr. Takyi-Appiah added.
This comes as Zeepay also emerged as the number-one company in Ghana at the 19th Club 100 awards. The recognition underscores Zeepay’s exceptional performance and its significant contribution to the nation’s economic growth.
The feat was attributed to the ingenuity of CEO Andrew Takyi-Appiah and as Zeepay’s vision is to expand its presence in the fintech and mobile money space beyond Ghana.
With its innovative mobile financial services, Zeepay has been revolutionizing the remittance and mobile money sectors. The company’s impressive growth and strategic approach have propelled it to the forefront of Ghana’s business landscape. By clinching the top position in the Ghana Club 100 rankings, Zeepay has solidified its status as a key player in the country’s corporate sphere.
As Zeepay looks toward the future, it aims to leverage its success to further establish itself as a dominant force in fintech and mobile money across Africa. With CEO Andrew Takyi-Appiah at the helm, the company is poised to unlock new opportunities and drive financial inclusion on the continent.
People & Lifestyle
From Lemonade Finance to LemFi: International Payments for Everyone
In a bold move to further its commitment to providing international payments for everyone and better serve its expanding community, Lemonade Finance announces its rebranding to LemFi. The decision to change the name was driven by a desire to simplify and capture the essence of the company’s vision and to differentiate itself in the evolving financial services landscape.
Lemonade Finance was founded in 2020 with a simple vision,to empower immigrants seeking to achieve more in their lives. The company delivers its services through an app that enables users to send money to 10+ countries.
LemFi is licensed as an Electronic Money Institution with the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom, under the name RightCard Payment Services. It is also registered as a Money Service Business by the Financial Transactions and Report Analysis Centre in Canada.
“The name we started with was Lemonade Finance. And as our app gained popularity, our reach expanded across multiple countries, and we became the vital link between families and loved ones separated by distance,” explains Ridwan Olalere, the CEO and Co-Founder.
However, the company’s growth and evolution demanded a name that would resonate even more deeply with its purpose while embracing the uniqueness of its community. Through extensive collaboration with the team and community, the decision to rebrand was made to better encapsulate the vision of providing a more inclusive and efficient means for people to send money home.
Introducing LemFi, a name that embodies the spirit of No Borders, No Barriers and no BS. The new name reflects the company’s dedication to simplicity, agility, and accessibility while retaining its commitment to facilitating seamless financial transactions for its users.
“Our new name, ‘LEMFI,’ represents our unwavering dedication to breaking down barriers and transcending borders,” says Ridwan. “It symbolises the strength and resilience of our community and allows us to carve our own unique meaning within it.”
The rebrand also comes with an expansion of vision. Hitherto, the goal was to power “International Payments for immigrants globally”; now LemFi aims to deliver “International Payments for Everyone”.This commitment will be demonstrated by unveiling an exciting lineup of product updates in the coming weeks and months.
The LemFi team thanks its valued users for their continued support and invites them to embark on this new chapter together. As LemFi, the company will continue building a product and expand to more countries in the coming weeks, empowering individuals to confidently pursue their dreams.
The company’s new website and social media channels will now be:
Website:www.lemfi.com
Facebook: UseLemfi
Instagram: @UseLemfi
Twitter: @UseLemfi
Email:support@lemfi.com
People & Lifestyle
YouTube’s Alex Okosi Highlights The Need For A Comprehensive Digital Trade Strategy For Africa
YouTube’s Managing Director, Emerging Markets, EMEA, Alex Okosi, was among the key speakers at the Africa Debate 2023, which took place on Thursday, May 11, 2023, at the Guildhall in London.
Okosi’s session, titled “Building a Comprehensive Digital Trade Strategy for Africa,” highlighted the challenges facing Africa in terms of digital infrastructure despite advancements in digital trade and e-commerce. He debated the best path forward for a digital trade strategy, with a focus on the 7th protocol of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) on e-commerce.
Joining Okosi on the panel were Michelle Chivunga, a Digital Trade Expert for AfCFTA and Chief Executive Officer & Founder of Global Policy House, who moderated the session, as well as Wayne Hennessy-Barrett, Chief Executive Officer, 4G Capital; Peter Njonjo, Chief Executive Officer, Twiga Foods; Toulay Oueslati, Head of Trade Finance & Commodity Trade Finance, Bank of Africa United Kingdom and Hardy Pemhiwa, Chief Executive Officer & Chairman, Cassava Technologies.
Organized by Invest Africa, a leading business and investment platform with over sixty years of experience on the continent, and in partnership with Africa Finance Corporation, the event was in its 9th year and focused on Africa’s trade profile through a comprehensive programme of talks, discussions, and networking opportunities.
“I believe that digital trade has the potential to transform Africa’s economy and improve trade relations with the rest of the world. However, to achieve this goal, we need to address the challenges of infrastructure development, regulatory frameworks, and digital skills training,” Okosi said.
The panel discussion explored the future of African trade and how the private sector can best support and prepare for a more integrated and competitive African trade environment.
“Collaboration between governments, businesses, and financial institutions is crucial in creating an enabling environment for digital trade. This includes developing regulatory frameworks, financing solutions, and digital infrastructure,” Okosi added.
Okosi is a highly experienced television, content, and tech executive with over 25 years of experience building successful businesses and brands globally. He has a track record of identifying and scaling new business opportunities, generating multi-million-dollar revenue streams, and delivering profitable growth.
Currently serving as Managing Director, Emerging Markets, YouTube EMEA, Okosi has been instrumental in driving the platform’s growth across key verticals, including music, gaming, TV/film, kids & family, news, and sports. In 2022, Okosi was named one of the UK Powerlist’s 100 most influential people of black heritage for the second year in a row.
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