University of Cape Coast

Centre for Coastal Management

As part of the Centre for Coastal Management's 10th-anniversary celebrations, a cookout activity for students and staff was organised on the 8th of June, 2023, at the University of Cape Coast's Senior Club House car park.

Participants of the cookout included students, staff and national service personnel from different regional countries in the Centre showcasing the rich African culture by way of the various native foods eaten in these countries and the history behind the foods. 

Participants were drawn from Liberia, Cape Verde, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Ghana, each team comprised at least three (3) participants. The food prepared included; Konkonte with groundnut soup, Fante Fante, Attieke with Tilapia, Plantain with Palaver sauce, Cachupa, Fried potato greens with Torbogee, Pounded yam with Efo-riro, and Tuo Zaafi with Bitter leave soup.

The event was fun yet competitive with mouthwatering aromas from the various meals being prepared, attracting more passers-by to the cooking grounds. There were various activities (ludo, dancing competition, cards, etc) ongoing alongside the meals being cooked to keep onlookers active and entertained

A team of judges was invited to appreciate and score the meals in terms of the history behind those meals, nutritional value, taste, organisation and presentation. The judges were put in a tight corner as it was difficult to pronounce a winner given that all the teams did amazing. In the long run, the team from Cape Verde, led by Paulino Dias with the Cachupa meal emerged as the winners for the cookout while Tuo Zaafi with Bitter Leave Soup followed closely. 

The meals were then served to all who were interested in satisfying their taste buds, amidst music, cheers, and jeers. Participants were presented with gifts as a show of appreciation for their willingness to contribute to the success of the event.