THE 'INDOMIE' ECONOMY: A CLOSER LOOK AT ACCRA'S THRIVING STREET FOOD SCENE

An Indomie joint opened for business in the morning at Osu

The preparation and sale of noodles and spaghetti, commonly referred to as "Indomie", have been on the rise in Accra and across Ghana, serving as a major source of employment to many people, especially the youth.

A plate of noodles with vegetables, chicken franks, and gizzard

A plate of spaghetti with vegetables and egg

Indomie is a popular instant noodle produced by Indofood, a leading Indonesian food company. The brand's name is proof of its Asian roots, blending 'indo' - a tribute to Indonesia - with 'mie', an archaic spelling of the Indonesian word for 'noodles', celebrating the dish's cultural significance. 

In Asia and other places, noodle dishes are eaten with a fork or chopsticks and a soup spoon.

Indomie is sold in supermarkets in Accra

Indomie was introduced to the Ghanaian market in 2006, with its main target being children. After its introduction to Ghana, breakfast stalls added Indomie and spaghetti to their menu.

A breakfast stall having noodles and spaghetti as part of their menu

Typical of Ghanaians who call all washing powders OMO, and every toothpaste Pepsodent, all noodles or spaghetti are called Indomie regardless of their individual brand name.

To prepare Indomie, the noodles or spaghetti is boiled for three to five minutes, and drained of all the water. It is then stir-fried with some eggs, mixed vegetables, chicken franks, sardines, corned beef, soy sauce, spices, and powdered pepper.

Noodles are stir-fried with eggs, vegetables, spices, chicken franks and powdered pepper in a frying pan

Indomie is enjoyed nationwide and largely patronized in the afternoon and evening, either for lunch or dinner. Consumers have the luxury of asking vendors to prepare the dish to suit their tastes and preferences.

Indomie City, a fast food stall located on the George Walker Bush Highway

Vivian Agyeiwaa, a graduate of the Institute of Journalism of the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC -IJ), is the owner of Indomie City, a fast food stall located on the George Walker Bush Highway. Vivian expressed excitement about how the Indomie business has made her self-employed since November 2023. She added, "After school, I was not getting job, so I decided to do something for myself, so I decided to set up this place and make Indomie. Selling noodles and spaghetti was the best for me because preparing Indomie is not stressful and it does not require plenty of workers and capital, unlike Banku and the others".

 

Vivian Agyeiwaa, an Indomie vendor preparing noodles for her customers

Precious, another Indomie vendor at Awoshie-Barnyard explains why she abandoned her other food business to focus on the Indomie business as her full-time job. She said, "The Indomie business is very lucrative especially when you are situated at a good location. If the food is prepared nicely for customers, at least you will get 100 Ghana cedis as daily profit". 

Precious, a full-time Indomie vendor preparing noodles for customers

Diella Teku, an office worker, expressed her love for the Indomie delicacy. She said, "Usually at work, when I want something to eat very fast that is very quick to prepare, I go for Indomie. Monday to Friday, I do enjoy it at work because it is very fast and easy to consume".

Diella is served with her favorite Indomie noodles at Indomie City

Stella, another lover of Indomie, enjoys her favorite noodles at her workplace.

 

Indomie vendors use variety of vegetables to prepare their dishes  

Dr. Johnson Worlanyo Ahiadorme, a Macroeconomist at the Ghana Statistical Service, explains how the Indomie business is helping to combat youth unemployment.

Indomie joint operating at night in Accra to satisfy the hunger of consumers

Level 400 Final Production by Amponsah Kwaku Yeboah