Ghana’s Inaugural Afro-Gastro Festival Set to Spotlight Culinary Heritage and Cultural Diplomacy
The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts has officially extended an invitation to the public for the first-ever Afro-Gastro Festival, a two-day celebration of African and Afro-descendant food traditions, scheduled for 17 and 18 October 2025 at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park in Accra. This landmark event, led by sector minister Abla Dzifa Gomashie, is positioned as a dynamic platform for cultural diplomacy, aiming to reconnect Ghana with its continental and diaspora culinary roots through shared cooking, tasting, and performance experiences.
Minister Gomashie has framed the festival as an opportunity to highlight the culinary commonalities that unite Africa and its diaspora, drawing connections between dishes and ingredients from regions as diverse as Ghana’s Volta Region, Sao Tome, and Trinidad and Tobago. The festival’s programme is thoughtfully structured: the first day will feature a ceremonial cooking event and a dialogue on the role of food in cultural diplomacy, while the second day will focus on live cooking demonstrations, tastings, and interactive sessions with chefs and performers.
“You do not have to speak Spanish to eat Spanish food,” the minister remarked, underscoring the festival’s core message that food transcends language and cultural barriers, serving as a universal bridge between communities. This ethos will be brought to life as twelve countries and a host of institutions participate, with culinary delegations and chefs invited to showcase their preparation and presentation techniques.
Among the culinary personalities expected is Chef Faila, known for her Guinness Book of Records attempt, who will join other chefs in preparing signature dishes. A special spotlight will be placed on jollof rice, a dish central to Ghana’s culinary identity and a symbol of its international recognition. Festival-goers can look forward to authentic and aged jollof presentations, alongside a vibrant schedule of music and cultural performances. Notable artists such as Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, Ayigbe Edem, and Bino are set to perform, with emerging talents providing live accompaniment to the culinary showcases.
The festival’s integrated format is designed to immerse visitors in the full spectrum of food culture—from witnessing the preparation of traditional dishes to engaging in cross-cultural exchanges between local and visiting chefs. Institutional participation is robust, with hospitality training schools and industry associations like HOTCATT and the Traditional Chefs Association of Ghana actively involved. The event will also feature student and community engagement, inviting selected schools to participate and encouraging youth to document regional culinary features through photography—a competition already recognized by the ministry with awards for outstanding entries.
Minister Gomashie has drawn attention to the risk of losing elements of Ghana’s culinary heritage, urging renewed interest in local ingredients and traditional dishes. She called on Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to identify and develop local cultural assets, noting that recent fiscal reforms have equipped local assemblies with greater resources to support such initiatives. “We are urging them to themselves do things and the ministry will assist them in promoting it,” she stated, emphasizing a collaborative approach to cultural preservation and promotion.
Looking ahead, the ministry has signalled plans for expanded collaboration with continental bodies, including the African Union, in future editions of the festival. The Afro-Gastro Festival is envisioned as a cornerstone of the broader Black Star Experience, serving as a vehicle to promote domestic tourism, empower small businesses, and strengthen ties between Ghana, the continent, and the global African diaspora.
The festival’s launch has been met with enthusiasm from both the public and industry stakeholders, who see it as a timely initiative to elevate Ghana’s profile as a culinary and cultural destination. By integrating food, music, and heritage, the Afro-Gastro Festival is set to deliver a unique, immersive experience that not only celebrates Ghana’s rich traditions but also positions the country as a leader in Africa’s growing culinary tourism movement.
For Africa’s travel sector, the Afro-Gastro Festival offers a compelling model for how food culture can drive tourism, foster community engagement, and create new economic opportunities. As Ghana prepares to welcome visitors from across the continent and beyond, the event stands as a testament to the power of culinary heritage in shaping national identity and forging lasting connections across borders.
