Culture And Food: Ghanaian Dishes Versus The Culture Of Fast Food

 Foods cannot be omitted from the tall list of the elements of culture. This is evident that foods form an integral part of culture.

Italy is known as the home of Pizza and China is popularly known for pasta. However, the narrative is not the same in the Ghanaian context.

Ghana is not known for one delicacy because the country is made up of different ethnic groups but their differences are in unity.

Some popular dishes known among Ghanaians

These ethnic groups have their own ethnic foods.

The Gas from Greater Accra region are known for kenkey and fried fish complemented with grounded hot pepper sauce. Etew and fresh fish stew for the Fantis from the Central Region.

Ashantis are also know for fufu and Abunuabunu (green leafy soup)with bush meat. Akple, Yaka and Abolo are known among Voltarians.

Fast Food: The new culture of food

In an article published on February 4, 2021 by James Boafo, a lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology defined fast food as

" food sold in an outlet, drive- through, or restaurant either as preheated or precooked, and served or packaged as take- away"

According to his research, young adults 15 to 45 years– were the biggest consumers of fast food in Ghana and more men were the consumers of fast food than women.

The research also revealed the reason for the gradual shift from local dishes to fast foods.

" We found that fast food brands played on long- held beliefs in which Ghanaians largely associate fast food with Western culture to capture the affluent class who want to display their wealth by consuming fast food. "

He spelled out the implications of inordinate taste for fast foods as he attributed the rise in obesity, hypertension, diabetes and other diet- related diseases in urban areas to consumption of fast foods.

Therefore, conclusion can be drawn in the words of James Boafo

" . . . the proliferation of fast food restaurants in Ghana is set to continue, and that the increasing consumption of fast food by local elites will undermine the local food culture. This, in turn, will pose severe health challenges to the public. "