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Celebrating gallant fathers: Meet Mr. Fredrick Odartey Golightly – CEO, The Chef Palace
● He is passionate about his craft
On the occasion of Father’s Day men who go the extra mile to provide for their families are acknowledged.
As we congratulate and celebrate gallant fathers, The Spectator puts the spotlight on Mr. Fredrick Odartey Golightly, who has for the past 25 years operated a local restaurant at Kaneshie in Accra.
His resolve to succeed at what he does, in spite of setbacks, fits the aphorism: “A successful man is one who lays a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.”
INSPIRATION
Speaking about progress made over the years, he said turning a hobby to a lucrative business was “the best decision” he had ever made.
“My mum Grace Kwamah was a bar operator and people patronised her business anytime I prepared sausage and meat for sale. I had the passion for experimenting different meals and always loved to cook even though my mother did not need a helping hand.
“Watching documentaries about cooking on television also motivated me to follow my dreams and passions,” he noted.
Mr. Golightly said his parents had wanted him to become an accountant so he enrolled at a private accounting school at Kaneshie but when an uncle spoke about taking him abroad, he thought of acquiring a skill that would help him gain employment quickly when he travelled.
This, therefore, led him to enroll at a catering school at Mamprobi. Upon graduation from the course, he worked with some local restaurants before deciding to operate his own eatery in 1988.
Mr. Golightly subsequently abandoned the idea of migrating abroad and continued to serve his numerous clients with both continental and local dishes in Accra, and has trained over 60 individuals who have also gone ahead to start their own businesses.
ROUTINE
Talking about his daily work, the hardworking chef, said his day began after setting off early in the morning to procure fresh foodstuffs from Kaneshie market.
“I am always in the kitchen preparing meals because I want things to be done neatly and properly under my supervision” he noted.
Aside the nutritious meals he serves, he said his prices were relatively cheap and that had helped him attract more clients throughout the years.
The Chief Executive Officer of The Chef Palace makes good use of delivery services in order to meet the needs of his clients.
According to him, he had been operating three separate food joints which were running smoothly until 2020 when COVID-19 set in. He currently manages one and continues to serve his clients in spite of what he described as increasing cost of operations.
FUTURE
He indicated that there was good return in the local catering business and that explains why lot of people continued to invest in the sector.
“Tasty foods must be the hallmark of an operator. Operating a local restaurant is not an easy business. It is time consuming and requires less sleep.
“It is very profitable when managed well because I have been able to do a lot for my family and children,” he said.
Mr. Golightly is impressed that more men were venturing into the food and catering business compared with the days when it was deemed a “woman’s business.”
“I am always excited anytime I see men in the business because in my hay days, there were only few of us in the business,” he said.
ADVICE
The father of five said young people should follow their passion and acquire a skill aside the lessons taught in the classroom as there were more opportunities for employment aside white-collar jobs.
Born to Grace Kwamah and Robert Golghtly, the 50-year-old chef hails from James Town and lives at Bubiashie. He has five siblings. For his hobbies, he prefers researching new recipes and trying new meals.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
The spokesperson for Dr. Bawumia, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has criticised the implementation of the NDC government’s No Fee Stress policy, arguing that the programme has failed to deliver on its core promise.
According to him on Starr fm, the policy, which was introduced to ensure stress free payment of fees for level 100 tertiary students, has rather turned into what he described as post stress support.
He explained that students are required to pay their fees first before applying for reimbursement, a situation he believes defeats the purpose of the policy.
He questioned claims by government officials that the policy has been successful and that citizens are happy.
In his view, such claims do not reflect the lived realities of many Ghanaians. He stressed that while some people may appear satisfied, many others continue to struggle.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye pointed to the situation of trained teachers and nurses who have been picketing for nearly six months, demanding employment.
He noted that government responses suggesting it cannot accommodate all of them contradict claims of economic stability.
He further argued that economic indicators such as a stable currency mean little to people who are unable to secure jobs or access promised support.
He observed that telling an unemployed teacher or a struggling student that the cedi has strengthened does not address their immediate challenges.
On the issue of tertiary education, he maintained that no level 100 student benefited from stress free fees in 2025, despite the policy being announced.
He added that in 2026, students have already reported to school without receiving the promised support.
He insisted that asking students to pay fees first and seek reimbursement later amounts to support after hardship, not stress free education.
According to him, this approach goes against what was promised during the policy announcement.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye questioned why a government that presents the economy as strong is unable to fulfil what he described as simple and clear promises.
He added that there is a fundamental problem with the way the economy is being managed and indicated that he is prepared to explain his position further.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Dancehall musician Shatta Wale has issued a strong public statement calling for an end to what he describes as continuous attacks on his brand, following an apology from media commentator Awal Mohammed.
In the statement, Shatta Wale acknowledged the apology but stressed that persistent criticism and what he sees as deliberate attempts to damage his image must stop.
He noted that for many years, he has spoken for the streets, the youth, and people who feel ignored by society, while also promoting Ghana on the global stage and creating jobs through his work.
He expressed concern that some media personalities, commentators, and influential figures continue to target his name unfairly.
According to him, the issue goes beyond music and touches on respect, fairness, and national maturity.
The musician warned that continued disrespect toward voices that represent ordinary people could have wider consequences.
He emphasised that the Shatta Movement remains strong and organized, and that the patience of the masses should not be taken for granted.
He added that if systems continue to fail the people, they have the ability to organize politically through numbers and truth, not violence or hate.
Shatta Wale clarified that his message was not a threat but a reminder of reality, stressing that attacking a symbol that represents millions of people can have social, cultural, and democratic effects.
He called for respect, fairness, and unity, saying the voice of the people will always rise.
The statement comes after Awal Mohammed recently described Shatta Wale fans during a public discussion as junkies.
The comments triggered backlash from fans of the musician, prompting Awal to later issue an apology.
By: Jacob Aggrey
