The curtain has finally come down on the 2025 Happy FM Salah Food Fest Inter-Zongo Cooking Competition, with the Fourth Floor team representing Nima-Zongo emerging as champions after an exciting three-week journey across Ghana’s vibrant zongo communities.
The competition kicked off with preliminary rounds that took the Happy FM team to various zongo communities. On Saturday, May 17, 2025, the team visited Kasoa Old Market Lorry Park for the first preliminary round featuring teams from Kasoa-Zongo, Fadama-Zongo, Tuba-Zongo, and Sabon-Zongo at 9:00am.
The second preliminary round took place on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at Nima Market – Lorry Station at 9:00am, where teams from Nima-Zongo, Mamobi-Zongo, Madina-Zongo, and Ashaiman-Zongo battled for spots in the grand finale.
The grand finale on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at Fadama Station near the Chief Imam’s residence brought together the top teams: Fadama, Nima, Mamobi, Madina, Ashaiman, Kasoa, Tuba, and Sabon for the ultimate showdown at 9:00am.
Throughout the competition, contestants prepared authentic zongo-style dishes including Tuo Zaafi, Jollof rice, Omo Tuo, and other uniquely prepared traditional meals that celebrated the rich culinary heritage of Ghana’s zongo communities.
The winning Nima-Zongo team each received refrigerators from Happy 98.9FM, plus hampers filled with Tasty Tom products including Tasty Tom Tomato mix, spices, and jollof mix. They also won products from Wilmar Africa, Fortune Delicious All Purpose rice, Fortune Spread for Bread, and Jibu dispenser bottles with water.
Fadama-Zongo finished second, taking home three deep fryers from Happy FM and hampers from Tasty Tom and Wilmar. Third-place winners Madina-Zongo received rice cookers from Happy FM and hampers from Tasty Tom and Wilmar Africa.
“We are very happy with how this competition brought our zongo communities together,” said Bridget Mensah, Head of PR, Marketing and Events at Global Media Alliance Broadcasting Company (GMABC). “The love, unity, and cooking skills we saw from all the teams was amazing. This is what we wanted – to show the world the beautiful culture and food of our zongo communities.”
The grand finale was a celebration filled with music, dance, and entertainment. Popular artist Kobby Shawn thrilled the crowd with his performance, while the MCs Adjeley-Bi Darku and Akua Sika, Host of Friday Club Jam Mix and Happy Evening Drive respectively, kept the audience engaged throughout the event.
The competition was made even more special by a courtesy visit from Happy FM management to His Eminence Sheikh Nuhu Sharubutu, the National Chief Imam, at his residence, showing respect for the spiritual leader of the Muslim community.
Happy FM presenters Bismark Brown, Host of Epahoadaben, and K Boafo, Host of Anigye Mmre, were on hand to support the event and interact with contestants and community members.
The success of the Salah Food Fest was made possible by the dedicated Happy FM event team led by Oliver Appiah-Kubi, Project Lead for Salah Food Fest, Joel Sanco, Assistant Manager PR, Marketing and Events. Miriam Akuetteh, Event Executive and Joycelyn Portuphy coordinated activities while the Digital Team, led by George Shackleford, ensured maximum online engagement, among a host of other committed staff members.
Contestants were judged on hygiene, aesthetics, taste and execution, creativity and originality, teamwork, and discipline. Each preliminary round and the grand finale showcased not just cooking skills, but the strong community spirit that defines Ghana’s zongo areas.
The competition received strong support from sponsors including Tasty Tom, Fortune Rice, Frytol, Wilmar Africa, and Jibu, whose partnership made it possible to reward the talented cooks and celebrate zongo culture in grand style.
The 2025 Happy FM Salah Food Fest Inter-Zongo Cooking Competition has once again proven that food brings people together, and the rich culinary traditions of Ghana’s zongo communities deserve celebration and recognition.
Happy FM continues its commitment to promoting unity, culture, and community development through innovative programming that highlights the positive aspects of Ghana’s diverse communities.
