Day 12: Fu Fu Powder? Really?

Accra - Today Tim and I managed to make it over to the Food Research Institute.  We met the director at the old location in his backyard (FRI employees get to live in a neighborhood near the old location)  and the FRI driver gave us a ride to their new headquarters.  I was surprised that he did not shoot us at our approach as we came up on him unexpectedly from behind.  Instead he called ahead and asked the Deputy Director to give us a tour of the new headquarters!  When we tried to show him our letter of invitation he refused it politely.  Unbelievable.

We get there and we have a panel of three top officials telling us about their organizations mission, handing out annual reports, water, and a can of palm nut pulp for free! They answer our questions and give us a tour of their compound, showing us the testing labs, new products they have developed, and their test kitchens.  We were able to sample bread made with yam flour.  Delicious.  Then we were able to see the marketing department where we saw more of the products they developed like powdered fufu (look it up).  When we finished they asked us to be sure to come back.  Where in the USA could you receive such red carpet treatment for two simple MA students????  Crazy stuff.

Entrance of the Food Research Institute

Tim, Deputy Director Dr. Margaret Atikpo, Brandi, and Mr. Okae at the Food Research Institute

Scientist in the Bio-Toxins Laboratory

We were allowed to taste test some sweet potato rolls in the test kitchen of the Food Research Institute

A few of the products recently developed by the Food Research Institute of Ghana