Located in Kumasi, Ghana’s Ashanti region, is one of the largest traditional restaurants in the country.
Nana Ama Serwaa, who was born in Ghana, is the brains behind Ike’s Café and Grill. Serwaa lived in Atlanta for more than 35 years but always had her sights on returning to Ghana.
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During an interview with YouTube star Wode Maya, Serwaa explains that her goal was to open a restaurant where Ghanaians living abroad could experience both Ashanti and Ghanaian culture.
“I am an Ashanti woman, I had to do something to inspire others to come and experience our culture and how beautiful it is,” she said in the video interview. “I just want my brothers and sisters across the Diaspora to know that Africa is where you need to be. We have to come back and build our Motherland.”
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On the menu, you will find moi moi (a rich, steamed beans caked blended with onions and pepper), meat pies, chicken suya, pepper soup and fish, jollof rice, and more. There’s also an extensive cocktail menu and VIP area.
The spot has seen the likes of Ghanian singer Stonebwoy as well as national dignitaries coming in to dine and chill.
Serwaa is currently in the process of transforming her restaurant into a village with hotels, attractions, and entertainment for tourists.
“We’re not just a restaurant, we’re a tourist attraction,” Serwaa’s son explains in the video. “We have everything from live music, karaoke, and DJs.”
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Her vision for the village is to bring back the community feel Africans had in the past.
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