Gambia beats Ghana, Nigeria in jollof rice competition
Gambia has been adjudged the winner of the Jollof Rice Competition
organised by the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) as part of activities
marking the Jollof Festival at the weekend.
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.
Gambia prepared the jollof rice without 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.
The judges, who were drawn from Mexico and the Netherlands, said the
judgment was based on criteria including presentation, aroma, and taste.
Mr Jan van der Veer, the lead Judge, told the Ghana News Agency that the Gambians
had “a fine presentation and a better taste for their jollof as compared
to that of Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal.”
He lauded the Tourism Ministry and the GTA for the innovative event
adding that it was a great avenue to sell Ghana to the world.
The event was characterised by live-band music from the Ghana
Immigration Service Band and the iconic Ghanaian female highlife
Artiste, Akosua Agyapong.
Ms Felicia Aniagyei, the Acting Public Relations Manager of the GTA,
in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said the Jollof Competition,
which falls under the “Eat Ghana” module, 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.
This month has been dedicated to the “Eat Ghana” module while next
month, September, would be for the “Wear Ghana” module, followed by the
“Feel Ghana” in October.
Ms 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.
Some of the jollof prepared at the event included; Kontomire black
eye bean Jollof, Smoked Tuna and Vegetable Jollof, Beef Jollof and Egg
plant koobi Jollof.
Mr Lucky George, the Publisher of African Travel Times Magazine, said
jollof rice originated from the Sene Gambia in the 19th Century before
they separated to become two different countries.
There was also Chief Executive Officers’ (CEOs) challenge in the
jollof rice competition, out of which Mr Seth Ocran, the CEO of Yorks
Car Rentals, emerged the winner over Abeiku Santana of Kaya Travel and
Tours and Mr Akwasi Agyemang of the GTA.
Credit: Ghana News Agency
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