By Yunus S. Saliu
An inspection team for the 2026 West Africa Food Festival (WAFFEST) has commended The Gambia’s preparations to host the regional culinary event while raising concerns over the treatment of visiting delegates at the airport.
The team, comprising representatives of the Africa Chefs Alliance and the Gambia Chefs Association (GCA), is in The Gambia for a weeklong assessment of facilities and stakeholder preparedness ahead of the festival.
WAFFEST 2026 is expected to bring together culinary professionals and other stakeholders from across Africa and beyond.
The Gambia secured the hosting rights during the previous edition of the festival in Accra, Ghana, following what organisers described as a strong performance by Gambian representatives in the culinary competition.
The inspection is being conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, the GCA and other stakeholders involved in preparations for the event.
As part of the assessment, the delegation inspected the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre, which is proposed as the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies.
The inspection focused on the centre’s facilities and suitability for hosting the international event.
The team also paid a courtesy call on the International Trade Centre (ITC) Country Director, Yusupha Keita, where discussions focused on preparations for WAFFEST and potential areas of collaboration.
The delegation expressed appreciation to the ITC for its financial and technical support for the festival and stressed the importance of promoting Gambian cuisine, particularly through greater inclusion of traditional dishes in hotels and restaurants.
The team said preserving, promoting and commercialising Gambian culinary heritage should form an integral part of the country’s tourism development strategy.
Keita thanked the delegation for supporting The Gambia’s hosting of WAFFEST and assured the team of the ITC’s continued commitment to the successful staging of the festival.
The delegation also visited Kachikally in Bakau, where a tour guide briefed members on the history and cultural significance of the site, which is owned by the Bojang family.
The visitors toured the site and observed the crocodiles, with some members of the delegation also given the opportunity to touch them.
The team later visited the Gambia Tourism and Hospitality Institute (GTHI), where it had lunch and held discussions with the Chairperson of the WAFFEST Steering Committee, Madam Johnson, and GTHI Director General Momodou Lamin Singhateh.
The discussions centred on coordination and preparations for the festival.
On Tuesday, Aug. 25, the Gambia Chefs Association and the inspection team paid a courtesy call on Gambia Tourism Board (GTBoard) Director General Ida Jeng Njie.
During the meeting, members of the delegation raised concerns about their arrival at the airport, particularly what they described as poor treatment and alleged requests for unlawful payments by security officers.
Despite the concerns, the inspection team said it was impressed by the level of preparation observed across the country.
Njie thanked the delegation for visiting The Gambia and expressed appreciation for the opportunity to host WAFFEST.
She assured the team of the GTBoard’s full support for the Gambia Chefs Association and efforts to ensure the successful organisation of the festival.
The delegation also met the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Amie Njie, in Banjul.
Vice President of the Africa Chefs Alliance, Chef Isaac, expressed satisfaction with preparations for the event.
Permanent Secretary Njie thanked the delegation for conducting the assessment and assured members of the government’s full support.
She also pledged to address the concerns raised regarding the airport experience and air transportation arrangements.
The day’s engagements concluded at GTHI with a wrap-up meeting involving an ITC representative and the WAFFEST Steering Committee Secretary.
WAFFEST 2026 is being held under the theme “Developing Skills, Changing Lives,” highlighting the festival’s focus on culinary skills development, employment creation, cultural preservation and the promotion of food, tourism and hospitality across West Africa.
With preparations continuing, stakeholders say The Gambia is positioning itself to showcase its food, culture, tourism and hospitality to Africa and the wider world.
The inspection programme is expected to continue with further stakeholder engagements as the country intensifies preparations for WAFFEST 2026.