Embrace Traditional Food As Means To Preserve Our Culture Heritage Ghanaians Urged

Ghanaians have been encouraged to help preserve the country’s cultural heritage in a time marked by innovation and information.

One of the ways this could be achieved is through the preservation of authentic Ghanaian dishes.

The Greater Accra Regional Director of the Centre for National Culture, Eric Ohene-Larbi, who made the call, described food as an significant aspect of any people’s culture, and a potent way to connect with both the past and the present.

“In today's digital and contemporary era, it is more significant than ever to preserve our cultural traditions. With so much access to information and entertainment from all over the world, it is easy to lose touch with our own roots,” he said.

Mr Ohene-Larbi was speaking at the AdMA HOMOFEST Cooking Competition held on Friday, September 6, 2024, in Accra.

The event, a celebration of rich Ghanaian culinary heritage, was organised by the Adentan Municipal Assembly (AdMA), in collaboration with the Centre for National Culture.  

It was also to serve as a testament to the skills that have been passed down through generations and showcase the vibrant flavours that make up the tapestry of Ghanaian culture.

Food and innovation 

Mr Ohene-Larbi said even though innovation had brought unprecedented convenience, it had also, in some ways, disconnected Ghanaians from their culinary roots because many people today were more familiar with fast food and global cuisine than the dishes that had been part of their heritage for generations.

He further stated that embracing contemporary methods and technologies in the kitchen did not have to mean abandoning traditional dishes. 

Rather, he said they should provide an chance to enhance and refine cooking skills, helping people to cook more efficiently and effectively.graphiconline