Food is part of our everyday life, but the way we prepare it especially in West Africa leaves a lasting impression on visitors to the sub-Saharan region. In the lure of promoting cultural exchange and tourism, a team of five prominent Liberian chefs departed the country on Tuesday, October 1, 2019, to participate in the 2nd edition of the West African Food Festival Expo (WAFFEST 2019) held in Accra, Ghana under the theme “Celebrating African Heritage through Cuisine”. The five (5) man cooking squad include Chefs Alex Yamah, Alieu Bangura, B. Darius Lewis, Daniel Debach and Richard T. Collins all of Liberia Professional Chefs Association (LIPA).

The week-long event (October 1 – 6, 2019) brings together a host of West African countries with Ghana, Benin, Liberia, Togo, Nigeria, and the Gambia being the main contenders. The participants will be involved in a series of activities beginning with a Chef’s Master Class session on day one, City and Factory Tour on day two, Chefs move to the classroom on the third day, Countries Competition on day four and climax with a pastry and Inter-School Competition on the fifth day. As a side attraction, there will be many other local and international independent vendors marketing their creative brands, food merchandise, and other artistic products.

In Africa’s quest for development, we must first identify and appreciate who we are. This cultural exchange program provides the right platform to highlight the spectacular unity in diversity of the West African people through their gastronomic cultures. Thanks to the Ghana Tourism Federation, Tourism Society of Ghana, the Ghana Tourism Authority and their sponsors for providing Liberia the unique platform to showcase the indigenous meals like the torgborgee, palm butter, cassava leaves, potato greens, and GB among others.