The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts (MOTCCA), has officially launched the 2025 Heritage Month, a flagship initiative designed to promote Ghanaian culture & creative expression, heritage and domestic tourism.
The launch event took place on Monday, March 3, 2025, at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra and attracted key stakeholders, including members of the Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF), the Ghana Hotels Association, tourism industry leaders, and the media.
Heritage Month, observed every March, celebrates Ghana’s rich cultural heritage through festivals, food, arts, crafts, music, and tourism-related activities. The initiative aligns with the country’s Independence Day celebrations on March 6 and highlights the vital role of domestic tourism in fostering economic growth, job creation, and national cohesion.
Speaking at the launch, Deputy CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Gilbert Abeiku Aggrey, outlined the core objectives of the Heritage Month initiative. These include:
• Creating enthusiasm and awareness about Ghanaian culture through food, music, arts, crafts, and festivals that reflect the nation’s identity.
• Promoting Made-in-Ghana goods and services to strengthen the creative arts industry and enhance global competitiveness.
• Showcasing the unique cultural and economic assets of Ghana’s districts and regions to attract investments.
• Enhancing national cohesion through shared cultural experiences.
• Driving domestic tourism through initiatives such as the “Experience Ghana, Share Ghana” and “See Ghana, Eat Ghana, Wear Ghana, Feel Ghana” campaigns.
CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Maame Efua Houadjeto, called on tourism and hospitality enterprises to actively participate in Heritage Month by incorporating Ghanaian culture into their offerings. She urged hotels, restaurants, and nightclubs to prominently feature local cuisine and drinks on their menus, while tour operators and guides were encouraged to package cultural and historical tours to sustain heritage tourism.
She also emphasized the role of local music in preserving Ghana’s identity, urging the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) to promote classic Ghanaian highlife and traditional music. Additionally, she encouraged Ghanaians to embrace the “Wear Ghana” campaign to boost the local textile industry and enhance economic opportunities for artisans and fashion designers.
The Black Star Experience – A Game Changer for Tourism
A key highlight of this year’s Heritage Month is its alignment with the government’s flagship tourism initiative, “The Black Star Experience.” This initiative aims to position Ghana as the gateway to Africa for the global diaspora by curating immersive cultural, historical, and creative arts experiences in collaboration with the private sector, diplomatic missions, and government agencies. Planned activities include street carnivals, film weeks, fashion festivals, food fairs, theatrical performances, and domestic tourism promotions. The initiative will also incorporate Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism to diversify Ghana’s tourism offerings.
“We are excited to announce that, as part of Heritage Month and in line with The Black Star Experience, the Ghana Tourism Authority will organize a Food and Cultural Fair to showcase indigenous Ghanaian cuisine,” said Houadjeto. “The first event will take place on March 14, 2025, at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, in collaboration with the Chefs Association, Traditional Caterers, Indigenous Caterers, and the Heritage Food and Drinks Association.”
The 2025 Heritage Month calendar is packed with events and initiatives that celebrate Ghanaian identity and culture. Key activities include: Ghana Music Month, Heritage Caravan, Made in Ghana Rave, Akwaaba Festival, Gob3 Festival and
Taste 68 @ 68 Food Fair – a culinary event celebrating Ghana’s diverse traditional dishes.
The GTA CEO reiterated the importance of public and private sector collaboration in making Heritage Month a success. “The Black Star Experience is a game-changer for Ghana’s tourism, culture, and creative arts industries. It will drive economic growth, create job opportunities, and rebrand Ghana as a premier tourism destination,” she stated. “We call on all Ghanaians to support this initiative and actively participate in the celebrations.”
