Food

Ghanaian food is excellent, with staples including fresh fruit such as pineapple, mango, fresh fish, chicken, soups and stews and a variety of maize meal foods. And if you like spice, Ghana is the place to be.

Thick soups are the mainstay of Ghanaian cuisine and are usually eaten with potatoes or rice. Another staple meal is Fufu, whichconsists of cassava, yam, or plantain that has been cooked, pureed, and mashed into a ball. Fufu isa ubiquitous and much-loved staple throughout most of West Africa. It can be topped with a fiery sauce or served as the bland accompaniment to a main dish. Fufu is traditionally made with cassava, but it can be prepared with everything from rice or yams, to instant mashed potatoes.

"Throw yourself into the experience. Try everything at least once, some things may look disgusting but taste amazing!"
Joy Ash - June 2009

On street stalls you can find plenty of foods to stave off your hunger pangs. A popular dessert is fried plantains seasoned with chili pepper and ginger. This is usually washed down with a refreshing non-alcoholic drink made of corn called askenkee.

We strongly suggest volunteers do not drink water from the taps and are careful when eating out (try to avoid salads!)

Traditional Western foods can be bought in Accra, but as these are generally imported volunteers should be aware that they are expensive. Ikando members of staff will point you in the right direction as to where to do your food shopping.

Click here to read a NY Times article on the delights of the Ghanaian Cuisine.

Unless otherwise stated food is not included in our fees as from experience volunteers prefer feeding themselves. In Accra and Cape Coast we have a fully furnished kitchen with appliances and our staff will show you how and where to do your food shopping.