Ghana has undeniably become a favorite destination for actor and comedian Charles Okocha, also known as Igwe 2pac.
Recently, he was spotted in the country for the second time, accompanied by his hypeman, Jaytee. The duo wasted no time in immersing themselves in the local culture by indulging in one of Ghana’s beloved dishes, waakye.
Referred to as Mr Phenomenal, Okocha and Jaytee ventured onto the streets to find a hidden gem in Accra where they could savour this delicacy.
They stumbled upon a joint, the exact location of which remains undisclosed, and ordered a pack of waakye along with its accompaniments, such as salad and spaghetti.
With joy evident on their faces, they hopped into their van and began relishing the food while their driver chauffeured them to their hotel.
Their enjoyment of the meal was palpable, as captured in the attached video, showcasing the widespread appeal of waakye.
Waakye, a traditional Ghanaian dish, consists of cooked rice and beans and is typically consumed for breakfast or lunch, although some opt for it as a supper option. The rice and beans, often black-eyed peas or cow beans, are cooked together with red-dried sorghum leaf sheaths or stalks and limestone.
These ingredients lend the dish its distinct flavor and reddish appearance, with the sorghum being removed before consumption. The term “waakye” originates from the Hausa language, meaning beans, and is a shortened version of the phrase “shinkafa da wake,” which translates to rice and beans.
Roadside vendors are a common sight selling waakye, often wrapped in banana leaves and accompanied by additional offerings such as Wele stew, boiled chicken eggs, garri, shito, vegetable salad comprising cabbage, onions, and tomatoes, spaghetti (known as talia in Ghana), or fried plantain.