Hotels Association Applauds Exploits of Sierra Leonean Chefs in WAFFEST 2025

By Kadiatu Sankoh

The Sierra Leone Association of Hotels, led by its National President, Mr. John Shallop, held a meeting to celebrate the outstanding performance of Sierra Leonean chefs at the West African Food Festival (WAFFEST) 2025 held in Ghana. The chefs brought home three awards and several medals, showcasing Sierra Leone’s growing excellence in the culinary arts. The annual competition will move to The Gambia next year.

Mr. Shallop expressed pride and admiration for the chefs’ achievements despite the challenges they faced during their journey to Ghana.

“Sierra Leone is short of nothing, but excellence, when it comes to hospitality. We are the masters of hospitality — we have it in our hearts and in our blood. I’m proud of you all,” he said.

He acknowledged the financial and logistical difficulties the team encountered, including long travel days and lack of funding.

“I’m very sorry for the trouble you went through in your travels and the shortage of funds. It’s a bit of a shame on all of us, but I believe we can do better next time,” he added.

Mr. Shallop encouraged hotels under the association to support chefs through internships, training, and mentorship, not only financially, but also through skill development opportunities.

“It’s not always financial. Even a small internship can take any individual in the chef administration a long way. My dream is to have a Sierra Leonean Executive Chef in every hotel and restaurant in the country.”

He also spoke about his ambition to establish a culinary school in Sierra Leone, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs and the National Tourist Board, to raise the standard of gastronomy in the country.

Mr. Shallop thanked the hotels that provided support, including Radisson Blu, Lagoonda, Family Kingdom, Lead Hotel, Country Lodge, and Bamoi Hotel for stepping in at short notice.

Mr. Umarr Bah, General Manager of Radisson Blu, praised the chefs’ resilience and reaffirmed the hotel’s commitment to training support, despite the short notice this year.

“Most people would have quit and gone, but you didn’t. That’s why we are proud of you. We remain open for training support in the future,” he stated.

Chef Association’s Report on WAFFEST 2025

Mr. Abdul E. KaiWessie, President of the Chef Association of Sierra Leone, presented a comprehensive report on the team’s participation at WAFFEST 2025 in Accra, Ghana (23–27 September).

The team departed Freetown on 20th September, traveling by road through Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire before reaching Ghana, after three challenging days, marked by vehicle breakdowns and exhaustion.

Upon arrival, the team paid a courtesy visit to Ambassador Kaissamba at the Sierra Leone Embassy in Ghana, who warmly welcomed them and attended the opening ceremony.

During the festival, the chefs participated in various activities, including judge training, “Meatless Monday” health sessions, and several cooking competitions. Sierra Leone achieved:

  • 1st Place – Country Cuisine
  • 2nd Place – Cake Decoration
  • 3rd Place – Dessert Plating

Mr. KaiWessie praised the team’s performance, noting that the difficult journey affected their energy levels.

“I believe my team would have done even better had we not faced such a hectic trip. We hope to be financially stronger for future competitions.”

The team faced significant challenges during their stay in Ghana, including:

  • Accommodation issues due to insufficient funds, leading to eviction a day before departure.
  • Unfulfilled promises of financial assistance from the High Commission.
  • Inability to afford WAFFEST uniforms priced at USD 35.
  • High cost of food, limiting the team to one meal a day.

Recommendations

  1. The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs should send representatives to witness WAFFEST 2026 in The Gambia, to better understand the importance of supporting the Chef Association.
  2. Strengthen collaboration between the Ministry, the National Tourist Board, and the Chef Association to improve Sierra Leone’s representation and possibly host future WAFFEST events.
  3. The government is reminded to consider the Chef Association’s request for a piece of land along the beach area to help establish a business that promotes self-reliance and sustainability.

Both associations reaffirmed their commitment to work together to promote culinary excellence, hospitality, and tourism in Sierra Leone. With stronger institutional support and training, Sierra Leone aims to increase its participation, currently with 12 chefs in future regional and international competitions.

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