By By Cooper Inveen and Francis Kokoroko —
ACCRA, June 15 (Reuters) – Storm clouds circled a large zinc shed outside Ghana’s capital Accra where market porters sat on overturned metal bowls, disheartened by the lack of business as the encroaching rain deterred shoppers from nearby stalls.
Then a rumbling sound broke the stillness as gourmet chef Elijah Addo pulled up in a food truck and started dishing up hot plates of beef stew.
Eyes widened when the 31-year-old said they were free and bright faces lined up behind the vehicle.
Addo said he has two core missions, to reduce hunger and eliminate food waste. With food prices up an annual 30% in May, he is finding more and more people are turning to his food truck, including those with jobs and homes.
“It started with a disabled man I met in 2011, who would collect unused food from the hotel I worked at for his colleagues on the street,” Addo explained.
“When I asked him why he did that, he told me: ‘If I don’t, who will?'”
Op-Ed originally posted on Reuters on June 15, 2022.