ACCRA, GHANA –The highly anticipated final calendar for December in GH 2023 events has been announced today. Presented by the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the Beyond the Return Secretariat (BTR), the calendar highlights several events across the length and breadth of the country which bring numerous benefits to the entire tourism and creative arts  ecosystem.

Since its launch in 2019 by GTA as part of The Year of Return, December in GH has become a major highlight on Ghana’s cultural and tourism calendar, attracting visitors from around the world who are eager to experience the nation’s vibrant heritage , arts and entertainment scene. This year’s calendar promises an even more spectacular showcase, offering a platform to explore Ghana and connect with several local communities  during the festive season. The collaboration between the Ghana Tourism Authority and event organizers is instrumental in making December in GH a resounding success each year.

Mr. Akwasi Agyeman, CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, expressed his excitement and gratitude for the unveiling of the December in GH calendar, stating, “We are thrilled to present the final calendar for December in GH 2023. This year’s events promise to showcase the best of Ghana’s culture, music, heritage, and entertainment scene. We extend our gratitude to all event organizers for their support in partnering with the Authority to make  this a truly memorable and impactful celebration.”

Ms. Annabelle McKenzie, Director of the Beyond the Return Secretariat, shared her enthusiasm,  saying, “The unveiling of the December in GH calendar marks the culmination of months of careful curation and collaboration. We are proud to offer an unforgettable experience that fosters deeper connections within the global African diaspora and our local Ghanaian community.”

According to data from the Ghana Tourism Authority,  December in GH activities  contribute significantly to the tourism value chain and ecosystem, creating a positive impact on various sectors especially for SMEs. The events generate increased tourism demand, leading to higher hotel occupancy rates, restaurant visits, transportation usage, and local artisan sales. This surge in economic activity benefits business owners, creatives, and entrepreneurs, as well as the local communities . Moreover, the December activities contribute to the preservation and promotion of Ghana’s rich cultural heritage. 

Detailed information about the events listed in the final ccalendar can be found on www.decemberingh.com, and will be continuously promoted on social media platforms and official websites. We encourage everyone to follow Ghana Tourism Authority and Beyond the Return on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok,  for updates and further details.

About Ghana Tourism Authority & Beyond the Return

The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), operating under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, plays a vital role in promoting, marketing, regulating, and licensing tourism in Ghana. GTA is also the overseeing body for the Beyond the Return Secretariat. Beyond the Return is an initiative that seeks to deepen connections between Ghana and the global African diaspora, focusing on cultural, educational, economic, and social exchanges.

When it comes to food, Ghana is known for some of the most popular dishes in West Africa. The sheer mention of ‘Jollof rice’ has started the most heated debates on social media around the world. The popularity of Ghanaian food keeps growing and that’s why having the first ‘EAT GHANA FOOD FAIR’ during the official launch of ‘December in GH’ was important. With the push for more investment in Ghana, the food industry is one that can create jobs and boost the economy. 

With many Dignitaries, government officials and celebrities in attendance for the ‘December in GH’ launching, the food fair became the best place to showcase some of the country’s popular food items, restaurants and catered dishes.  There was plenty of food representing all the flavourful dishes from different regions of Ghana including Ga kenkey, Fante kenkey, goat groundnut soup, fufu, kontomire, tuo zaafi, aprapransa and so much more. The exhibition was divided into three zones with Zone 1 featuring foods from Greater Accra, Central Region and the Western Region. Zone 2 highlighted food from the Ashanti and Bono Region. Finally, Zone 3 represented the Northern, Volta and Eastern Regions. 

The diaspora community were also in attendance at the food fair including the President of the NAACP, Derrick Johnson and his delegation who recently arrived in Ghana from the U.S. Several students from secondary schools in Accra were also there enjoying the endless options of local foods. 

The Chefs Association of Ghana prepared some of the best dishes and the Queen Mothers Association participated by serving the food to guests. What an amazing sight to see over 30 beautiful Queen Mothers looking regal and helping to promote some of their favourite foods from across the country.  

One of the major highlights of the day was the cooking competition which paired students with local celebrities.  Media Broadcaster and Fashion Designer, Kofi Okyere Darko, popularly known as KOD, Comedian and Actor Kalybos, Counsellor Lutterodt and veteran Actor, Fred Amugi joined students from Teshie Technical Training Centre in the cooking competition.  They teamed up to make one of Ghana’s most popular dishes, Jollof. The judges for the competition were from Ghana’s Chef Association. After battling it out over the stove, the winner of the cooking contest was Kalybos. KOD came in second followed by Counsellor Lutterodt and Fred Amugi respectively. 

The EAT GHANA FOOD FAIR was launched as a way to  promote Ghanaian foods.  It’s an opportunity to showcase local cuisines in both traditional and modern ways. With more foreigners visiting the country, the sector seeks to find new ways to market old dishes while creating fusion foods. The fair was also a way to encourage people to patronize local food and businesses. 

By: Ivy Prosper

The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has announced a call for entries for event organisers and promoters to submit their proposals for inclusion in the calendar of events for the much anticipated ‘December in GH’ campaign for December 2022. 

This announcement comes at a time when the Authority  prepares an anticipated increase in international arrivals with the easing of travel restrictions worldwide. 

The project being cordinated by the Beyond the Return (BTR) Secretariat invites all event organisers interested in having their event endorsed as an official ‘Beyond the Return’ program, to submit formal proposals. The team is accepting proposals for events taking place from November 1, 2022 to January 10, 2023. The team encourages all interested in holding events to consider activities that can engage the global African diaspora, continental Africans and Ghanaians .  

According to the CEO of the Authority, Akwasi Agyeman, “The vision is to have events that can bring together the global African community to celebrate the holiday season in Ghana. For the past 3 years since we launched the December in GH program, Ghana has become the place to be during Christmas” .

“We all know that every December, Accra becomes the cultural hotspot of Africa with so many events happening and thousands from the diaspora spending their holidays here,” said Annabelle McKenzie, Manager of the Beyond the Return Secretariat. “Ghana is a diverse and beautiful country with so many places to explore.  That’s why we encourage all event organisers to consider planning their events, festivals, concerts, and activities in other regions outside Greater Accra. We want the ‘December in GH’ vibe to be experienced not only in the capital city, but across the country.”

An official calendar of events will be released once event organisers have submitted proposals and they have been reviewed by GTA for endorsement.  Proposals can be submitted using this link: https://forms.gle/vRj6ZE6hBZozQ4uu9

‘Beyond the Return’ is a ten-year initiative with a theme of ‘A Decade of African Renaissance.’  with seven pillars as its foundation.  Each of the pillars are significant to the mission of continued engagement with the diaspora community as well as continental Africans.  The seven pillars are Experince Ghana, Celebrate Ghana, Give Back Ghana, Invest in Ghana, Brand Ghana, Diaspora Pathways to Ghana and Promote Pan African Heritage and Innovation. It’s important that potential event organizers consider how their event connects with the pillars when planning. 

More information about Beyond the Return can be found on the website www.beyondthereturngh.com. 

Information from Ghana Tourism Authority can be found at www.visitghana.com.

The Around the World Food and Drinks Festival brought together global citizens in Accra for a culinary experience over the Christmas weekend.  The 3-day festival took place from the 24th – 26th December 2021 and celebrated the food culture of 20 different countries with the aim of boosting tourism through food.  The festival was endorsed by the Beyond the Return Secretariat and was part of the DecemberInGH activities under the Ghana Tourism Authority.   

Since President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo launched the Year of Return 2019 campaign, Ghana has quickly risen in the ranks of travel destinations for people of African descent living in the diaspora and other parts of the continent.  The month of December has especially become the time of year Ghana is seen as a ‘go-to’ destination for the holiday season.  Although the Covid-19 pandemic has hindered international travel due to increased restrictions and protocols, it didn’t stop many travellers from making the journey to Ghana this year.  

Some of the foods at the festival included Qdoba Queso and Chicken Taquitos from Mexico, Creole Fish Sauce from Seychelles, Bunny Chow from South Africa, Tom Yum Gong from Thailand, Briam from Greece, and Pesto Mash from India.  Everyone at the festival had the chance to take their taste buds on a journey around the world. The festival hosted several events over the three days and featured chefs and food experts from around the world.  Ghanaian International Chef Sweet Adjeley, Tacos God Chef Keeks, and Ify of Ify’s Kitchen all hosted a Masterclass sharing tips on cooking.  There was also a family brunch session with Menscook, Kofi Kinaata and a Hawaiian brunch hosted by Nyonyo and friends.  WhiteMoney, winner of Big Brother Naija Season 6, also hosted a masterclass sharing some of his secrets to how he cooked his way through Big Brother Naija. 

The festival also featured performances by some of Ghana’s best artists each night including  Efya, Kidi and Gyakie. EchoHouse Ghana Limited was responsible for organizing the event and their team was pleased with the outcome of this festival with plans to host it annually.  “In celebrating our diverse cultures and seeing how unique we are and the things we have in common, we are reminded of our shared humanity,” said the CEO of EchoHouse Ghana Ltd., Beryl Agyekum Ayaaba.  She said that this festival created a place where we could all be part of a global cultural scene.  “Often during global events such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, we forget that we are in this together and that what sometimes seems to separate us, can also bring us together”, she added. “Spaces such as Around The World Food And Drinks Festival creates a meeting place where people of diverse backgrounds come together with a shared quest of exploring new culinary palates and appreciating other cultures.”

The festival was the first of its kind in Ghana bringing the best cuisine from around the world together in one place. Each country has its own cuisine that tells the story of who they are through food. The festival is a great way for people who appreciate global cuisine to come together and enjoy without having to travel. It was a melting pot of diverse culture celebrating great food from around the world.

Story by: Ivy Prosper