After Accra, jollof rice challenge moves to Lagos

Otunba Runsewe To Declare Contest Open At Akwaaba
As guests and stakeholders in the travel and tourism sector of Africa gear up for this year’s Akwaaba Africa Travel Market, organisers have announced that the D.G of National Council of Arts and Culture (NCAC) Otunba Segun Runsewe will declare the chef challenge open. As the Jollof rice challenge draws nearer, so is an increase in buzz and enthusiasm amongst the competing countries.

Over the weekend, Africa was thrilled with the Jollof rice challenge organised by the Ghanaian Tourism Authority (GTA) at Legon Botanical Garden. The competition, which featured Ghana, Gambia, Nigeria and Senegal, formed part of the ‘See Ghana, Eat Ghana, Wear Ghana, and Feel Ghana’ campaign being championed by the GTA, under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts to promote local tourism on a global scale.

The event also served as a selection process for the Ghana Chef Association to choose the 5 chefs coming to Lagos for the Akwaaba challenge.

During the event, Gambia prepared the jollof not with tomatoes, but with mustard, fish and other ingredients, making their jollof yellowish-white as compared to Ghana, who used tilapia, tomatoes and other ingredients to make their jollof attractive and tasty, giving it a reddish colour. The Nigerian and Senegalese chefs used ingredients they believed could make their jollof super and delicious but, unfortunately, they could not win.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, The Acting Public Relations Manager of the GTA Ms Felicia Aniagyei said the Jollof Competition, was to encourage Ghanaians to be proud of their local dishes and patronise them wherever they went. She said the occasion was also used to showcase some locally made cuisines including Kenkey with fish and rice balls with groundnut soup.

Aniagyei noted that engaging other African countries in the competition was to help showcase the varieties of jollof rice and deepen the relationship among the participating countries.

Akwaaba Travel Market jollof rice War will serve as the final event, according to Ghanaian Chef President, Chef Isaac. To the Ghanaian chefs, the prize is already theirs, and here is something you should know about the Ghanaian Chef association. The goal of the Chefs Association of Ghana is to unite chefs and cooks across Ghana in a common dedication to professional excellence.

Since its inception, the association has enjoyed a deep and long-standing tradition as Ghana’s true representation of the professional chef and cook. The Nigerian Chef Association, however, has selected the best Chefs to represent the country.

Meanwhile, the 13th Akwaaba African Travel Market 2017 received a boost, as Olam Nigeria Limited, the biggest rice producers in the country, announced its readiness to partner organisers for the maiden edition of chef challenge/food expo. Olam, as the official sponsors of the much talked about #Jollofrice war by Akwaaba Travel Market, delivered bags of Mama’s Pride Rice brand of 1kg, 5kg and 10kg to a team from Akwaaba for the upcoming event slated for September 10, 2017, at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.

Speaking at the company’s office in Lagos, while receiving the Akwaaba team led by Gbabo Laura Dein, Olam’s Regional Sales and Marketing Manager Mayowa Joshua said the organisation is looking forward to be at the travel fair adding that the company is excited about the partnership.

The culinary event is aimed at promoting tourism in Nigeria by showcasing the best of Nigeria to an international audience.