This week’s profile is focused on a very determined and humble woman whose struggle in her early years, could not kill her vision of becoming a prominent figure in society whose contribution to human resource development would stand the test of time.

This woman defied all odds and jumped over every hurdle put in her way to carve a niche in the catering and hospitality industry in Ghana.

Mrs Princess Angela Sackey-Cadbury, the proprietress of Citadel Events, a school of hospitality at North Kaneshie in Accra, has nurtured the talent of the youth by giving them the requisite training to become productive citizens in their fields of endeavour.

Her outstanding achievement in the catering and hospitality industry has attracted people from all spheres of life to learn and acquire peculiar skills for themselves in her school.

Background

Mrs Sackey-Cadbury who is Ga from James Town, Accra, had her primary school education at the St. Anthony’s Preparatory School at Laterbiokorshie and Junior Secondary School education at Nungua ACC ‘4’, all in Accra  where she wrote the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

She proceeded to Ahmadiyya Secondary School (Potsin), in the Central Region where she offered Home Economics due to her futuristic interest in pursuing catering as a business venture.

The focus-minded woman after secondary school enrolled at Cake Tekniks Catering Institute to study and practise sugar craft and later taught in the institute for two years.

Poised to achieve her childhood dream, Mrs Sackey-Cadbury enrolled at the Accra Polytechnic, now Accra Technical University in 1998 and studied Hospitality.

She completed in 2001 and bagged a Diploma in Hospitality from the Accra Technical University.

Ordeal

Her dream in setting up a hospitality school was becoming difficult but with determination she was able to make it.

She said in the catering environment, it was difficult when students did not have their own equipment for the designated practical work to test their depth of knowledge in the courses taught.

“I sometimes have to support my students in cash or kind for them to fulfill their course work since the materials needed in catering are costly”, she said.

She is of the view that “extending a helping hand to the needy in skills acquisition is worth satisfying to the soul”.

Uniqueness

Her outstanding persona in the hospitality and catering industry is the drive to make a difference among the number of hospitality service providers in the country.

Working under strict hygienic conditions, Mrs Sackey-Cadbury ensures that her clients are properly served to enable them enjoy all the local and continental dishes served on all occasions.

The Hospitality History

Making a transformation in her hospitality endeavour into a broader spectrum, she expanded her small scale venture to a more resourced one to attract clients and students.

She told The Spectator that her services were earlier provided at Nungua-Brigade, Accra, where she started the school with an inspiring number of people.

“Due to the nutritious nature of my cakes and meals, people advised me to make it a school in order to harness talents in the catering industry, so I adhered to their advice and started the school”, she added.

Previously, the school was called Peesac Catering and Floral School and offered courses in Catering, Sugar Craft and Events.

From there, she relocated to her current venue at North Kaneshie where she changed the school’s name to Citadel Events based on the suggestions from her husband.

Family

Mrs Sackey-Cadbury is married to Pastor Nestor Danso Cadbury and are made up of a family of six who fellowship at the New Covenant Assemblies of God, Nyamekye-Accra.

Ecstasy

Her joy in the hospitality and catering industry is matchless and no one can stop her from doing what she loves best.

“This profession is a vocation where no one can take it from me and I have combined other businesses to it but the skill of catering is an undying one which is always part and parcel of me”, she reiterated.

Another joy she expressed was the provision of training for the hopeless to also have vocational skills as a means of empowering them.

Advice

Mrs Princess Sackey-Cadbury advised all to have vocational skills and asked women to ensure that they have something new in addition to their profession to enhance their skills.

“Desire to make an impact in society and make sure you learn a course in either catering or hospitality to make your home a fun-packed haven,” she told women.

Others

The banku and okro stew with crab fan loves cooking, listening to gospel music and reading books.

Mrs Sackey-Cadbury expressed her profound appreciation to some key role players in her life including her husband Pastor Danso Cadbury, Rev. and Mrs Blessing Mensah, Madam Florence Okine and all those who have made her dream come true.

By Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah