The official opening of Ghana Week DC (GWDC) took place at the Smithsonian Museum of African Art on 7th October, 2024 and marked a significant step in strengthening the relationship between Ghana and the United States, particularly with the African diaspora. Organized by the Ghana Tourism Authority and the Beyond the Return Secretariat, in partnership with LIQUID SOULD Events DC and the Ghana Embassy DC, this weeklong celebration showcases Ghana’s rich culture and offers opportunities for economic and cultural collaboration.
Ghana’s Ambassador to the U.S., Hajia Alima Mahama, emphasized the importance of this initiative during the opening ceremony, highlighting that the event goes beyond just a one-week celebration. “The whole initiative was to link up, promote tourism, build bridges, and have more opportunities to interact with African American communities,” Mahama explained. She added that President Nana Akufo-Addo is committed to ensuring that the mission extends beyond this week to build long-term connections. “This week will prepare us to continue with the interaction and the relationship so that [African Americans] can see Ghana as home.”
Launching Ghana Week in the U.S. capital, Washington, D.C., has been strategic, given it’s home to a diverse international community and has a high concentration of African Americans with a strong interest in international relations and business. The week coincides with African Restaurant Week, where local restaurants will showcase African and Caribbean cuisine, giving attendees a taste of the rich culinary heritage from across the continent.
One of the major highlights of Ghana Week DC is the “Capital City Africa Cup,” a highly anticipated football (soccer) match between 24-time Ghanaian league champions Asante Kotoko and D.C. United at Audi Field on October 12. This is more than just a game; it’s a cultural exchange. As Mark Addo, vice president of the Ghana Football Association, said, “This is not just a friendly competition but a cultural exchange through sports, and we are building together, not only the football but the nations of Ghana and the United States, and also we are bridging the gap.”
Paxton Baker, chairman of the Washington Nationals Founding Partners Group, managing partner of LIQUID SOUL Events DC and a key partner in the development of Ghana Week DC, expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative. “Africa has been clearly inside of my DNA for my whole life,” Baker said. He believes that the event, especially the Capital City Africa Cup, is an opportunity to bring African culture to Washington, D.C., in a meaningful way. His vision is to strengthen the economic power of the Black community through cultural connections and investment. Baker pointed out that traveling and investing in Ghana is not only accessible but also rewarding. “When you start to make investments there, you become much more interested in the continent, you become more interested in what’s going on there,” he explained.
Ghana Week DC aligns with Ghana’s Beyond the Return initiative, which was launched in 2020 as the follow up to the successful Year of Return Ghana 2019. GWDC aims to inspire more people in the African diaspora to visit,repatriate, and invest in Ghana, deepening their ties to the continent. The initiative has the theme, ‘A Decade of African Renaissance’ with seven foundational pillars designed to build connections with the diaspora and highlight Ghana’s strengths.
Ghana Week DC, running from October 7-12, serves as a vibrant celebration of Ghana’s culture and an invitation for African Americans and the broader diaspora to strengthen their ties to Ghana, explore opportunities for investment, and engage in a cultural exchange that builds bridges between nations.
