Tourism ministry launches Ghana Carnival, Homofest 2018

The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture has launched two programmes today at the Accra City Hotel.

The programmes, Ghana Carnival and Homofest, are aimed at preserving the Ghanaian culture and using it to boost the economy.

Ghana Carnival which is slated for 1st and 2nd July, 2018 will be an art procession festival which makes room for display of various arts forms on the streets of Accra.

Homofest, will be a homogeneous festival that puts together all Homowo festivals celebrated in the region.

Speaking at the programme, the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Catherine Abelema Afeku asked Ghanaians to reclaim their heritage by making the carnival a success.

“Everybody talks about carnival and our mind immediately go to the Caribbean. They took it from here. The carnival is the traditional expose of our culture is it is our manifestation of how we celebrate our harvest, life or Gods of our ancestors,” she said.

Talking about Homofest 2018, she said it is celebrated after all Ga-Dangbe communities and towns have organized their festivals.

“This year’s celebration will take place in Accra in October, in partnership with Regional House of Chiefs, Metropolitan and District Assemblies, Corporate bodies and the private sector practitioners,” she noted.

Companies will have the opportunity to showcase their products and services to the over 4,000 people expected to walk from Mantse Agbona at James Town to the Black Star Square.

Nii Kinka Dowuna VI, President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs and Paramount Chief of Osu Traditional Area who was the chairman of the launch pleaded with the media and general public to support the two events.

“The two events are very key in preserving our culture and I want to entreat all of us to get involved to make it a success,” he said.

Also in attendance were the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr. Ziblim Iddi, the Mayor of Accra, Mohammed Nii Adjei Sowah and some directors of the ministry and its agencies.