The Italian Embassy in Ghana has commemorated the eighth edition of Italian Cuisine Week through an exquisite dinner event.
The occasion featured a presentation of gourmet Italian recipes paired with wines hailing from all twenty wine-producing regions of Italy.
Organized in partnership with the Italian Trade Agency (ITA), the Italian Cuisine Week has proven to be an invaluable diplomatic tool, offering the world a glimpse into a vital aspect of Italian culture—its rich culinary heritage and fine wines.
This year’s event, hosted at the Residence of the Italian Ambassador, welcomed guests from various government ministries and agencies, the business community, the diplomatic corps, and a select group of food and wine enthusiasts.
Italian cuisine, renowned globally for its robust flavors and use of fresh ingredients, transcends mere sustenance – it mirrors Italy’s profound cultural history.
Consequently, Italy’s bountiful and healthful Mediterranean diet has merited UNESCO recognition as a vital component of the World Cultural Heritage.
Highlighting the significance of the Cuisine Week celebration, Her Excellency Daniela d’Orlandi, the Italian Ambassador to Ghana, expressed that such events strengthen the ties between Ghana and Italy, given the shared culinary similarities between the two countries.
She pointed out the use of tomatoes as a basic ingredient in Ghanaian cuisine, mirroring its usage in pasta sauce and pizza in Italy as a noteworthy example of the culinary parallels between the two countries.
H.E d’Orlandi added that “Italy also hosts one of the biggest Ghanaian communities in Europe while there are at least one thousand Italians in Ghana so our cultures are very close and events like this one reinforces and strengthens the ties between our two people and cultures.”
Dr. Alessandro Gerbino, the Italian Trade Commissioner for West Africa and Director of ITA in Ghana, underscored the importance of trade between the two nations for the Ghanaian economy.
He emphasized the growing focus in Italy on promoting African economies.
“Very recently, our government has declared it a national priority and is putting in place a special plan for promotion of economic ties with Africa and within this plan, Ghana is certainly a central point of access for our companies in Ghana and in West Africa”, he remarked.
However, he stressed the necessity for Ghana to enhance the private sector and add value to its natural resources, particularly within the agricultural and mining sectors.
The representative of the Government of Ghana at the event was the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Stephen Asamoah Boateng.
In an interview with MX24 TV, the minister highlighted that the government views such events as platforms to expose the Ghanaian youth to the cultural values of other countries that share similarities with Ghana.
He emphasized that the event goes beyond just food and drinks, serving as an opportunity for the exchange of cultural, personnel, and educational ideas.
Furthermore, he underscored the importance of Ghanaians preserving their cultural heritage and family values, especially in the face of the influence of other cultures.
