Catherine Afeku
Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture, Catherine Abelema Afeku, launched the 2018 edition of the Ghana Carnival & Homogenous (Homofest) at the Accra City Hotel in Accra on Friday.
Ghana Carnival, which is slated for July 1 and 2, 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.
The two events are being organised by the Ministry of Tourism and its implementing agencies in partnership with key stakeholders, including the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, private sector operators in the tourism and creative arts industry, the media and corporate bodies.
Speaking at the launch, Mrs Afeku stated that the ministry has taken up these two events to use as a vehicle to accelerate the diversification of cultural tourism products since the country has rich cultural resources amongst all ethnic groups.
According to her, the Ghana Carnival which is on the theme: ‘Using Arts & Culture To Promote Our Economy’, will provide the platform to celebrate the very best of Ghanaian culture and music.
Companies will also have the opportunity to showcase their products and services to the over 4,000 people expected to walk from Manste Agbona at James Town to the Black Star Square from June 30 to July 2.
The sector minister added that the Homofest 2018 will take place at the Black Star Square on October 6. It is also on the theme: ‘Celebrating Our Culture, Heritage and Diversity’.
The two festivals, she said, are aimed at creating enabling environment for domestic tourism through the promotion of arts and culture, encouraging business development through production and sale of goods and services such as food, handicrafts, textiles and curios.
“The organisation of the carnival as an event on the annual calendar started in 2013. Having organised it successfully over the years, we have added value and made it a visible and viable event,” she said.
Mrs Afeku hinted that Homofest is also another major event which has been massively embraced by the chiefs and people of Ga-Dangbe as a special occasion on the festival calendar in the Greater Accra Region.