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General News of Friday, 2 May 2003

Source: Ghana High Commission

A new Ghanaian cook book launched

A new Ghanaian Cook Book entitled “A Taste of Hospitality”, has been launched in London by H.E. Mr. Isaac Osei, Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK.

The book, which catalogues vivid and simplified format recipes of over fifty popular Ghanaians dishes, was written by Ms. Marian Shardow, a Ghanaian based in the UK.

Categories of dishes highlighted in the cook book, described by friends of Ghana as one of the best books on Ghanaian dishes included soups, porridges, fried foods, steamed dishes, stews, roasts, cakes, biscuits, bread and special party dishes.

Among dignitaries present at the launch were Mr Roger Allotey, Manager of Ghana Airways, UK, Mr. Charles Wereko of the Information Section, Mr. Sam Tetteh, First Secretary (Recruitment), of the Ghana High Commission, Professor Steve Cowley, Senior Physics Lecturer, Imperial College of London, and Rev Major Sam Larbi (Rtd) Elim Church in Camberwell, London.

Launching the book, Mr. Isaac Osei described the book as “a significant and useful addition to the cuisines of our global village”.

The High Commissioner called on Ghanaians to develop a writing culture because the oral tradition, through which information on salient aspects of our culture was passed down to us by our ancestors, was inherently subject to distortions and misinterpretations.

He praised the enterprising and innovative spirit of the author and described her “as an example of what we want to see in Ghana and of the Ghanaian whenever he or she may be”.

Mr. Isaac Osei observed that the NPP Government remained committed to the consolidation of the democratic process because it firmly believed that it was only in a free and liberalised environment that the innate and creative energies of our people could be unleashed for the overall development of our country.

Ms. Shardow, who is also the Manager of Selkrik and Tizard Hall of the Imperial College of London, dedicated the book to all Ghanaians women who continued to stick to their local dishes in their households despite the attraction of dishes from other parts of the world.

The author explained that a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book would be donated into charitable causes namely, the Achimota School Trust Fund and the Ghana Police Service Appeal Fund dubbed “Five Pounds No Balance Fund”, launched by the Ghana High Commission in London.

Ms. Shardow later donated an amount of ?100.00(Cedis 1.3Million) to the “Five Pounds No Balance Fund”. The donation was received by Mr. Samuel Tetteh on behalf of the Mision.