Food lovers in the Wa municipality of the Upper West Region are being urged to rediscover and support Ghanaian local dishes.

Speakers at the programme dubbed 'Upper West Pot' that was held in Wa spoke of the need to patronize and embrace local cuisines in order to reclaim the cultural heritage of the various communities.

The Upper West Pot, which was under the banner of 'My Food is African', had selected government agencies prepare local cuisines of their choice as part of programmes to celebrate Ghana Month, showcasing the rich and unique culture of the people through culinary cuisines and showcasing traditional attire such as the smock or Fugu.

The Ghana Tourism Authority, in collaboration with the Center for National Culture and the Center for Indigenous Knowledge under the auspices of the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council, engaged the services of some government agencies and some owners of local cuisines to take part in the programme dubbed Upper West Pot. Each of them was tasked to prepare selected indigenous Upper West region's food or cuisine.

The agencies included the Ghana Revenue Authority, VRA/NEDCo, Food and Drugs Authority, Ghana Health Service, Regional Environmental Health Service, Center for National Culture, Food and Agric Department, Ghana Prison Service, and the Ghana National Fire Service. Others were the Ghana Tourism Authority and the Center for National Culture.

Chaana Foods Limited and Marat Foods Limited also represented the cohort of private owners of local cuisines. Beyond the cooking, the participants also wore smocks known locally as Fugu or Danchichi to further showcase the tradition of the people and the area.

Speaking on the theme, Upper West Pot: Our Deepest Pride, Our Greatest Heritage, Upper West Regional Director of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Kwasi-Enim Larbi, noted that it is more than a campaign or slogan, adding that it is a movement to reclaim our cultural identity through our cuisines.

"We are intentionally marketing the Upper West region to Ghana and the world at large," Kwasi-Enim Larbi posited.

Chief Director at the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council, Hajia Fati Issaaka Koray, speaking on behalf of the Upper West Regional Minister, noted that in a rapidly changing world where modernity often overshadows tradition, there are some inherent questions that demand answers to show the youth that our culture is not outdated.

"Our traditional food is our way of life that is deeply sustainable, healthy and uniquely ours," she asserted.

Upper West Regional Director of the Center for National Culture, Patience Beyuo, underscored the importance of local foods, urging the people to fully embrace them.

Deputy Executive Director of CIKOD, Daniel Banuoko, stated that 'My Food is African' campaign which his outfit is championing, is not only about reclaiming their identity but to advance the journey of decolonizing food systems as well.

There were solidarity messages from the Chief Executive Officer of Chaana Foods Limited and the founder of Marat Foods.

The climax of the event saw the participants move from their comfortable chairs dressed in their beautiful Fugu to have a bite and taste of the various cuisines which for some they haven't seen or tasted for several years.