#20: An Interview with Franka-Maria Andoh
"You have to be a people pleaser in a good way. Not just doing things to make others happy to your detriment, but absorbing the joy others experience from your work..."
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Ghanaian storyteller Franka-Maria Andoh embodies the spirit of creative entrepreneurship blended with social responsibility, championing cultural preservation while uplifting her community. Whether she's running Josie’s Cuppa Cappuccino, writing stories, filming documentaries or launching cultural initiatives, her work demonstrates that creativity and community service can — and should — go hand in hand.
In 1970, Franka’s mother, Mrs. Josephine Andoh, a former teacher turned baker, established Phines Golden Toast which later became Cool Corner Café in Accra's city center. As a tribute to her mother's trailblazing spirit, Franka founded Josie’s Cuppa Cappuccino in 1997.
Franka’s café is in the heart of Airport Residential Area in Accra, Ghana and has become more than a dining institution — it has also become a hub for for creativity and community impact. Under Franka's leadership, the café was recognized in 2015 by Ventures Africa as one of the leading cafés in Africa.
I first met Franka in 2014 after we had moved to Accra and was living out of a hotel within walking distance of Josie’s Cuppa Cappuccino. I hadn’t written much since the birth of my first son. Franka gave me the opportunity to write a profile on Aisha Ayensu, Creative Director of Ghanaian-based luxury brand, Christie Brown, and organized my first professional headshot, giving me a much needed dose of confidence during a period of emotional and geographical upheaval. This generosity is not rare, where Franka is concerned.
In recent years, Josie’s Cuppa Cappuccino has become a space for storytelling, artistic collaboration and community building. In 2018, Franka created The Antique Lemonade Gallery, providing a space for artists to create, collaborate, and host exhibitions and events. The grounds also have The Antique Lemonade Concept Store, an Afrocentric hub that sells curated antiques, fashion, books and local skincare products.
As a community change-maker, she has pioneered initiatives to employ members of the deaf community at Josie’s Cuppa Cappuccino. In 2020, she launched The Most Def Foundation to promote a culture of inclusivity in the workplace. In 2022, Cuppa Cappuccino trained and employed four deaf staff in their 25th year in business.
Franka's creative spirit extends far beyond the café's walls. Through her boutique publishing house, Lemontree Publishing, she provides a platform for new voices while continuing to share her own stories, like her first book, Under the Light, a collection that explores Franka's 25-year entrepreneurial journey with Josie's Cuppa Cappuccino, sharing her insights on business, spirituality and lessons learned. She also co-authored the biography of Sam: A Life of Service to God and Country with Mr Sam Okudzeto. Her latest book "Circumbendibus" will be released in 2025.
Her literary achievements include winning the Ghana Association of Writers (GAW) Ama Ata Aidoo Short Story Award, and being published in the Caine African Writers Anthology, among others.
As an award-winning author, she has penned numerous children's books, including Koku the Cockerel, Dokono the Donkey, Kumasi to London, Dear Kweku and The Kente Curtain, which connect young African readers with their cultural heritage. And her handbook Having a Period – Not a Little Girl Anymore won the FAWE National Award.
In June 2024, Franka founded The Antique Lemonade Arts Foundation, dedicated to preserving cultural memory and inspiring future generations through storytelling. Its most recent initiative is Ghananipa.com, a digital platform dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of Ghanaians from diverse backgrounds.
As a filmmaker, her documentary drama Omo Ghana, Man for Chop, which she co-produced with AI Media, is currently showing at Silverbird Cinema in Accra, Ghana. This project arose in November 2023 when The Antique Lemonade Art Space was commissioned to curate events commemorating the 40th anniversary of the expulsion of over one million Ghanaians from Nigeria in 1983. “Man for Chop” essentially means “man needs to eat to survive” and illuminates the plight of migrating peoples from Ghana and the African continent.
Franka demonstrates how vision and perseverance can create spaces that nurture artistic expression and community development. Through Josie’s Cuppa Cappuccino, her publishing house and her cultural foundation, she continues to celebrate Ghana's rich heritage while amplifying the voices of future generations.
If you’re interested in learning more about Franka’s creative process and pursuits, watch Franka’s podcast, Three Lemons:
And follow Franka, Josie’s Cuppa Cappuccino and The Antique Lemonade Arts Foundation on Instagram.
Who are you and how do you express your creativity or describe your art?
My name is Franka-Maria Andoh. I live in Accra, Ghana, West Africa. I express my creativity in a myriad of ways, and I feel very blessed with every opportunity that I find to share my gift with others.
I’m a big social media fan and use Facebook to share my faith, thoughts and experiences. I’m surprised when I meet people and they tell me that they’ve read this or that from my wall and it makes me realize that even if your gift impacts one person, that’s big!
What keeps you coming back to creative work? Why is it worth doing?
I love short stories, especially documenting other people’s lives and currently have my latest collection of short stories in print. This is what makes creative work worth it.
You have to be a people pleaser in a good way. Not just doing things to make others happy to your detriment, but absorbing the joy others experience from your work, be it words, dance, art, clothing, spaces. Wherever your gift allows you to put a stamp on the lives of others, it makes the creative life worthwhile.
What legacy do you hope to leave with your art?
I love books and films because they outlive us. They document, people, things, and if you do a good job, decades after people can still experience the time captured on the pages or on the screen long after you are gone.
What are your biggest challenges when it comes to maintaining a steady creative practice, and how have you overcome them?
My creative practices ebb and flow. Sometimes I’m in the mood and other times not. I’m grateful for my café business because it allows me the luxury of working smack in the middle of the day on creative things. The business itself is a form of expression for me, through food, art, antique furniture and all the things I put together to create a space that people can enjoy. “Charming,” is a word I heard used recently for our dining area and to think one can put things together to earn a description as such is humbling.
Tell us about the role of mentorship and community support in your creative work and/or practice, and who has supported your journey.
Years ago, I was part of a writing group which I enjoyed but unfortunately in this creative space, it’s difficult to find such groups, so I reach out to other creatives, invite them to embark on collaborative work and we sharpen each other, like iron sharpens iron. I particularly love to work with young creatives and to sit at the feet of the older creatives.
I’ve been encouraged on my journey in various ways and by people. I’ve discovered gifts as suggested by others, but I’ve had to buckle down by myself many times, to convert thoughts into words, into film, into various forms of art that will serve generations.
My gift is not mine to keep, not mine to lock up in my mind, but to serve and be of service to mankind. I treasure my creative gift.
(Interview answers received via email February 25, 2025.)
Thank you, Cara, for introducing us to Franka-Maria. What a wonderful legacy Franka is spearheading and leaving for community-minded creatives. A delightful interview, but I'm left desiring a cappuccino in her "charming" cafe.