OH BOY, TEACHER: Students Nicknamed Her "Oh Boy" for Her Fierce, Eagle-eyed Discipline in the Kitchen

At the College of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management (CoCAHM), students quickly learned that founder Mrs. Evelyn Addo-Boye was not one to overlook the smallest detail.

In the kitchen, she watched everything — from how students handled food to where they placed their utensils and even how they carried a tray. Her insistence on discipline and precision eventually earned her an affectionate nickname among the students: “Oh Boy.”

Mrs. Addo-Boye recalled the story during an interview with Kafui Dey, explaining that the name was largely a reflection of her strict approach to training.

“Discipline,” she said when asked why students called her “Oh Boy.”

For Mrs. Addo-Boye, discipline in a professional kitchen went beyond simply preparing good food. It meant understanding hygiene, safety and proper technique, and applying them consistently.

She would, for instance, insist that food be carried on trays to prevent unnecessary spills and waste. She also warned students against placing soap containers too close to prepared meals.

“If you trip, the food may not fall down,” she said, explaining one of the practical lessons she repeatedly taught.

Even after retiring from active leadership, Mrs. Addo-Boye has not completely stepped away from the kitchen. She still observes students during practical sessions and steps in to correct them when she spots something that falls short of the standards she established.

Her philosophy was simple: in hospitality, small details can make a big difference. A seemingly minor mistake can compromise food quality, hygiene or safety.

That uncompromising attention to detail became a defining part of her teaching style and helped shape generations of chefs and hospitality professionals, many of whom have gone on to work in Ghana and beyond.

More than five decades after she founded CoCAHM, the nickname “Oh Boy” has endured a light-hearted reminder of the strict standards, discipline and attention to detail that became hallmarks of Mrs. Addo-Boye’s legacy.