It’s absolutely true — Jeremy Doku has publicly stated that waakye is his favourite Ghanaian dish! 🇬🇭
🍛 What Jeremy Doku Has Said
- In a May 2024 interview on In The Premier League Chair, Doku was asked to pick his go‑to Ghanaian meal. His strong choice for waakye over the widely celebrated jollof rice tells how Ghanaian he is.
- He described waakye as “a hearty combo of rice and beans cooked with sorghum leaves,” often served with accompaniments like boiled egg, spaghetti, meat or fried fish
🌿 Connection to Ghanaian Cuisine & Heritage
- Although born in Belgium and representing Belgium internationally, Doku maintains a deep cultural connection to Ghana. He regularly enjoys meals prepared by his mother when visiting home and has said:
“When I go home … it’s always Ghanaian food and I love it.” (Ghanafuo News, Pulse Ghana) - Beyond food, he’s expressed his love for Ghanaian music, dance, language (he speaks Twi), and culture overall (Pulse Ghana).
🍽️ About Waakye
- Waakye is a traditional Ghanaian dish made by cooking rice and beans together with dried sorghum leaves and limestone to give its distinctive flavour and reddish hue (Wikipedia).
- It’s typically served with sides like boiled eggs, spaghetti (“talia”), gari, shito (pepper sauce), salad, fried fish or meat, and often wrapped in banana leaves for takeaway street‑food style (Wikipedia).
- In Ghana, it’s widely enjoyed as a hearty breakfast or lunch dish — especially popular with early morning workers lining up from 6 a.m. (Reddit).
🗣️ Voices from Ghanaians
Most locals have noted the special place waakye holds in local food culture:
“Compared to other dishes that are gaining cult‑like status … Waakye is underrated. Criminally.”
“For breakfast … workers, students, traders… waiting in line to buy Waakye… mixture of beans and rice accompanied by salad, talia, hard boiled egg…”
— describing early waakye culture
📋 Summary Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Jeremy Doku’s Pick | Waakye — he skipped jollof rice |
| Why Waakye? | Nutritious, comforting, deeply rooted in Ghanaian heritage |
| Serving Style | Typically with spaghetti, egg, shito, gari, salad, sometimes fish or meat |
| Cultural Significance | Iconic breakfast/lunch dish, especially beloved in Accra early mornings |
So yes, Jeremy Doku loves eating Ghanaian waakye — it’s his top choice when reconnecting with his roots at home. If you’re curious about how waakye is made, where to try it in Accra, or how it compares to jollof, I’m happy to share more!