Cape Coast to host ‘This Is Africa Festival’ in December

The Paramount Chief of the Cape Coast Traditional Area, Osabarimba Kwesi Atta II, has said that Cape Coast would be the hub of special activities and attractions in Ghana every December, starting from this year.

 Speaking  at the official launch of the Destination Ghana Global Project (DGGP) at the Cape Coast Castle on February 25, the  Paramount Chief stated that two big events: This Is Africa Festival and the Tourism Business Summit, will happen in Cape Coast every December. 

 Nana Obokese Ampah, a Director and Cultural Lead for the DGGP, explained the project as a private-public collaboration that primarily partners strategic events across the globe to promote Ghanaian businesses, tourism and local cultural festivals, while marketing Ghana as Home of Culture, Warmth & Rhythm.

The project was motivated by Ghana Tourism Authority’s Destination Ghana campaign, launched by Government of Ghana in April 2022 in the United Kingdom. 

 According to the DGGP Secretariat, the project has identified strategic business summits, tourism conferences, concerts and cultural festivals across the globe that it is collaborating with to market the DGGP’s agenda from May 25, 2023 to November 30, 2023.

All those activities will be climaxed in Cape Coast this December by The Tourism Business Summit and the This Is Africa Festival events.

 The Special Guest of Honour for the launch, French Ambassador, H.E Jules Armand Aniambossou pledged his Mission’s partnership with DGGP and reiterated French President Emmanuel Macron’s love and renewed interest in Africa.

 “Mr. Macron has a good heart for the continent”, H.E. Aniambossou said. He described France as “a true friend of the African continent” and that France was ready to demonstrate that.

 Ambassador Jules-Armand Aniambossou later met with key stakeholders and local government officials at the office of the Mayor of Cape Coast on February 27 to discuss areas of partnership in commerce and tourism development.

 In a video message delivered by Ghana’s High Commissioner to Malta, Her Excellency Barbara Akuorkor Benisa, she pledged her Mission’s support for the project.

“As you target to attract over 100,000 visitors to Ghana annually with this project, I am assuring you that I will personally help push the agenda here in Malta. With the help of the Culture and Tourism Ministers here in Malta, I will lead a strong delegation to Ghana to participate in this year’s This Is Africa Festival and the Tourism Summit come December.”

Events producer, Verus Nartey, who has handled successful concerts at all of Ghana’s biggest venues and across the world, commented on the upcoming This Is Africa Festival.

“Cape Coast will experience one big tourism, arts and cultural exposition that will seek to “bring the world home and to connect the African family,” the experienced events producer said.

Cape Coast Mayor, Hon. Ernest Arthur and the Central Regional Minister, Hon. Marigold Assan pledged their offices’ readiness to ensure the two events make the biggest impact in tourism and investment in the Central Region. 

In his address, the Executive Director of the PANAFEST Foundation, Rabbi Kohain Halevi, who is leading the pitch sessions to market DGGP said: “Tourism in Ghana can best get up there with Cape Coast as the forerunner. We will be looking for the right partnerships to position this great city as the flagship tourist destination in Africa”.

On the proposed partnership with the French, the Chairman for the launch occasion, Osabraimba Kwesi Atta II, gave an assurance that Cape Coast stood ready to lead the teaching and learning of French in Ghana as well as to welcome French businesses for foreign direct investments.

Musicians Jupitar, Kofi Kinaata, Bessa Simons, Lamisi, Asodzi Cultural Troupe and Flat 5 Band performed at the launch. They were later unveiled as the Music Ambassadors for the project, as they will lead the promotion as well as provide entertainment at DGGP events.     

The launch was hosted by Nyanis Addo, Nana Ama Egyirba and Raza Swaag, all of Asaase Radio.

The Destination Ghana Global Project is being organized by the DGGP Secretariat, Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration, Showbiz Africa, Obokese Foundation, Ghana Tourism Authority, Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Ghana Museums & Monuments Board, RAM Media Concept and SM Group Ltd.