GTA promotes culinary tourism with Taste 69 @ 69 at Ghana Culture Week
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has renewed calls for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to reposition Ghana’s tourism, culture and creative arts sector as a globally competitive industry.
The call was made during the Ghana Culture Week 2026 celebration held at the National Theatre of Ghana under the theme “Resetting Ghana’s Tourism, Culture and Creative Ecosystem.”
The Cultural Week was organised by the Ghana Cultural Forum in collaboration with the Ghana Tourism Authority and under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts.
The event formed part of activities marking Ghana’s 69th Independence Anniversary and the annual Ghana Month celebrations.
The programme brought together government officials, traditional authorities, members of the diplomatic corps, development partners and industry players to celebrate Ghanaian culture while promoting domestic tourism.
Taste 69 @ 69 Promotes Culinary Tourism
A major highlight of the celebration was the Taste 69 @ 69 food exhibition hosted by the Ghana Tourism Authority, which showcased 69 indigenous Ghanaian dishes to commemorate Ghana’s 69 years of independence.
The initiative aimed to highlight the richness of Ghana’s culinary heritage while promoting gastronomy tourism as an important pillar of the country’s tourism development agenda.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority said food remains one of the strongest expressions of Ghana’s cultural identity and has significant untapped potential to drive economic growth.
“Every region of Ghana has its own taste, preparation style and story. Our cuisine reflects our history, diversity and identity as a people,” he noted.
Traditional dishes such as waakye, fufu, banku, tuo zaafi, kenkey, mpotompoto and abenkwan were featured during the exhibition, with organisers emphasising their potential to become globally recognised culinary brands if deliberately promoted.
The CEO also urged restaurant operators, chefs, caterers and hospitality institutions to prioritise Ghanaian cuisine in their menus to preserve local recipes and unlock economic opportunities within the tourism industry.
Celebrity Cooking Competition Excites Patrons
Another major attraction of the event was a celebrity cooking competition that brought excitement and entertainment to the Cultural Week celebration.
The competition featured several well-known Ghanaian personalities who prepared local dishes using largely Made-in-Ghana ingredients. Contestants were judged based on the ingredients used, time spent in preparation, taste, presentation and overall creativity.
At the end of the competition, Kumawood actor Mr Beautiful emerged as the overall winner after impressing judges with a unique Ghanaian recipe in which he used coconut to prepare a special oil-fried rice dish.
Actress Gloria Sarfo was named first runner-up, while actress Roselyn Ngissah placed second runner-up.
Actor William Nomad finished fourth, with media personality Victoria Lebene taking the fifth position.
The competition drew a large crowd and created a lively atmosphere at the National Theatre, with patrons enjoying the blend of food, culture and entertainment.
Promoting Culture as an Economic Driver
In her remarks, the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Dzifa Abla Gomashie, described Cultural Week as an important national platform for preserving Ghana’s heritage while positioning culture as a driver of economic growth.
She emphasised that Ghana’s traditions, festivals, music and cuisine must be projected globally as valuable national assets capable of creating jobs and strengthening the tourism industry.
The CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority reiterated that the Taste 69 @ 69 initiative was deliberately organised to support government policy on promoting domestic tourism and deepening appreciation for Ghanaian culture.
He stressed that tourism goes beyond monuments and festivals, noting that food, culture and creative experiences play a key role in shaping Ghana’s image to the world.
Also addressing the gathering, the Head of Office of UNESCO commended Ghana for sustaining Cultural Week celebrations and using them as a platform to safeguard intangible cultural heritage through food, music and traditional practices.
The event also attracted members of the diplomatic community, including a delegation from the United States Embassy in Ghana led by Press Attaché Matthew Asada.
The colourful celebration featured traditional music, cultural displays, food exhibitions and traditional games, reaffirming the commitment of the ministry and its agencies to promote culture as a key pillar for tourism development and national identity.
