• 19 Mar, 2025
• Classic Ghana
• No comment

Gob3: Affordable Ghanaian meal turned pricey dish under media influence 

Gari and beans, popularly known as “gob3, is a Ghanaian dish prepared from cooked beans, gari, palm oil, and often consumed with fried ripe plantains. 

It was hitherto considered an affordable meal mostly consumed by those perceived to be poor in society who relied on its affordability and energy-giving properties to see them through the day. 

It is nutritious and widely consumed by many people, especially artisans, students, and low-income earners, as it sustains its eaters for hours without going hungry, and they could grab a plate of gob3 by the roadside. 

In recent years, however, gari and beans did not only receive a trendy name, ‘gob3’, from the original ‘yͻͻ kԑ gari’ (the Ga language version of beans and gari) but also underwent a transformation of being eaten with double doses of protein ranging from sausage, egg, meat, avocado, and other accompaniments. 

The food, which has long been a staple in Ghanaian households, especially those with limited funds, has gained attention in the traditional media, social media platforms, and features in food competitions. 

The ingredients for preparing the food, beans, gari, palm oil, and ripe plantain, used to be affordable and readily available on the market. 

Beans provide protein, gari contains carbohydrates, and palm oil adds essential nutrients, making it a balanced meal for many; it was the perfect choice to meet the nutritious and financial needs of its patrons. 

A few years ago, media houses and social media influencers started highlighting gob3, sparking renewed interest in the dish. Television and radio stations organised cooking competitions, displaying the creativity that could be applied to gob3 preparation. 

Social media users shared their experiences, photos, and even humorous memes, celebrating the dish, making the meal that was once considered ordinary suddenly become trendy. 

Young professionals, corporate workers, and even celebrities began to embrace gob3, while some local restaurants introduced special versions of gob3, further increasing its appeal. 

This growing demand led to an increase in prices, with street vendors jumping to the opportunity and adjusting their prices to match the new market interest. The affordability that once defined gob3 slowly began to fade. 

The cost of gob3 has thus risen significantly from than GH₵7 to the current price of between GH₵20 and GH₵40 depending on the accompaniment. Some vendors justify the price hikes by pointing to the rising costs of beans, palm oil, gari, and other ingredients. 

Madam Abena, a gob3 seller in Tema Community One, explained, “Beans and palm oil are very expensive now, so I have no choice but to increase the price. The increase in price is not deliberate; we must adjust the prices to suit the continuous increase of goods and services; otherwise, we will lose.” 

She added that she sometimes went to villages to buy the items at cheaper prices, but the cost of transporting them to Tema was high, leading to the increase in the price of the meal. 

Mr. Kwame Koranteng, a lover of the meal, said, “We used to eat gob3 because it was cheap and satisfying, but now, I have to think twice before buying it because it is very expensive. I could spend less than GHC10 buying gobe those days, but now, I buy beans only at GHC12 or 15, with plantains GHC10.” 

Ms. Ama Kwakye, a university student, noted, “We used to survive on gob3 because it was affordable; now, it is as expensive as other meals, so I buy the raw beans, cook it myself and eat it anytime I feel for it. Gob3 trends nowadays, so it’s understandable the prices have increased, but some of us will always find an alternative.” 

Source: GNA 

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