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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
Massive celebrations were recorded countrywide as the Black Stars opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Panama in Toronto on Wednesday.
Midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi scored the only goal of the match late in the game as he shot in a decent cross from substitute Brandon Asante.
The win gave Ghana a positive start in the competition, placing them in second position behind England, also with three points but with a superior goal aggregate.
After the final whistle, the streets and other viewing centres were turned into partying grounds as fans, mostly clad in the team’s paraphernalia, danced to several World Cup-themed music.
Others blew the vuvuzelas in joyous mood with others putting up a spirited ‘jama’ session.
Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the Adentan Constituency, Akosua Manu, has urged party members to move away from what she describes as an “entitlement mentality” and focus on unity, sacrifice and hard work as the party prepares for the 2028 general election.
In a statement titled “Is Loyalty a Queue?”, and posted on facebook, Ms. Manu argued that loyalty to the NPP should not be judged by how long a person has been in the party but by their contributions and commitment to its growth.
According to her, the NPP’s history shows that many of its leaders faced significant opposition from within the party before eventually leading it to electoral success.
She cited former President John Agyekum Kufuor as an example, saying he had to overcome resistance from influential figures within the party before winning power for the NPP in 2000.
Ms. Manu noted that after the party lost power in 2008, former President Kufuor faced criticism and accusations from some party members.
However, she said supporters eventually put their differences aside and worked together to rebuild the party.
She pointed to the experience of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who, according to her, faced opposition from some factions within the NPP despite his long service to the party.
“His trials were ten times what Kufuor endured,” she stated, adding that Akufo-Addo eventually overcame the challenges and became President of Ghana.
Turning to the NPP’s current flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Ms. Manu said he also faced resistance from different groups within the party while seeking leadership.
She praised Dr. Bawumia for contributing to policy-based political discussions in Ghana and for remaining composed following the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 elections.
According to her, party members must now rally behind him in the same way they supported former Presidents Kufuor and Akufo-Addo.
Ms. Manu, however, warned that internal divisions and a sense of entitlement remain major threats to the party’s future.
She argued that some party members place too much emphasis on how long individuals have belonged to the NPP rather than on their contributions and capabilities.
“This entitlement does not question impact. It does not ask what you sacrificed or what you built. It asks only how long have you been here,” she said.
The former parliamentary candidate cautioned that such attitudes could discourage committed members and prevent the party from selecting the best people for leadership positions.
She further called on the party’s incoming national executives to strengthen the NPP’s core values of sacrifice, honesty, integrity and dedication to national development.
Ms. Manu addressed the concerns of young party supporters, many of whom she said became discouraged following the NPP’s electoral defeat in 2024.
According to her, many young people remain eager to see the party return to power but are unwilling to support internal conflicts driven by personal ambitions.
She urged party elders to place the interests of the NPP above their individual goals and to demonstrate leadership that attracts rather than alienates members.
“The NPP is bigger than any one of us. It always has been. Our collective responsibility is to act like it,” she stated.
By: Jacob Aggrey
