Worcester African Nations Tournament US (WANT)

Richard Boateng is the owner of Anokye Krom, an African restaurant in Worcester, Massachusetts. Boateng is from Ghana and moved to Worcester in 1997.

Why he opened the restaurant
Boateng wanted to create a place for Ghanaian immigrants to feel at home in America.

He noticed that Worcester was becoming a destination for the West African diaspora.
He wanted to provide a place for people to relax and enjoy good food and drinks after work.
About the restaurant

Immigrant-Owned West African Restaurant Anokye Krom Expands to Park Avenue
Worcester is home to a large number of immigrant communities, as it has been for its entire history. This international heritage is what makes the city so great, whether it be in the workforce, education, or culture. Worcester’s different immigrant cultures also each bring their unique cuisines to the Heart of the Commonwealth, and Anokye Krom does its part to represent West African tastes in New England’s second largest city.

“With the influx of Africans, especially Ghanaians in Worcester, I felt we needed a place, a hub where after a hard day’s work, you can come in, relax, and have good food and drinks,” said Richard Boateng, owner of Anokye Krom.

Mr. Boateng, a native of Ghana who moved to Worcester in 1997, recognized early on that the city was quickly becoming a destination for the West African diaspora. He wanted to create a place for his fellow Ghanaian immigrants to have a taste of home while living in America.

Ghanaians make up the highest percentage of all 37,000 foreign-born residents in Worcester: 10%, meaning this city has the highest concentration of Ghanaian immigrants in the country.

Mr. Boateng’s restaurant serves a wide variety of West African appetizers and entrees. Among Anokye Krom’s most popular dishes is the jollof rice, which is rice cooked in tomato sauce with added spices and a choice of meat, served with a boiled egg and shredded lettuce. Fried plantains, bean soup, and rice are all popular and delicious sides.

Anokye Krom, which means “Anokye’s village” in one of Ghana’s native languages, is named after the historical leader Okomfo Anokye, who is revered as a legend in West African cultures as a powerful military and political leader in Ghanaian history. Mr. Boateng says this name helps his fellow members of the Ghanaian community feel at home in Worcester.

The best thing about owning a business, according to Mr. Boateng, is providing his patrons with good food and a communal place to gather. He notes that his friends and family will often come to the restaurant after church or sporting events on Sundays for a traditional Ghanaian lunch.

But Anokye Krom is not just for the Ghanaian community – Mr. Boateng wants people from all different backgrounds from all over the area to feel like his restaurant can be a new home for them, or at least their new favorite takeout destination. “Some people always want to look for new places and new food and we can provide that for them,” he said, speaking to the uniqueness of West African cuisine