Homofest, Ghana Carnival Launched in Accra

By Justice Dzido On Apr 21, 2018

Ms Catherine Afeku (2nd left) speaking at the ceremony. With her are Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona VI (2nd right), Dr Ziblim Iddi (left), Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, and Dr Joel Sonne (right), acting Chief Director of the Tourism Ministry. Picture: EDNA ADU-SERWAA

The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) in collaboration with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and other stakeholders has launched the 2018 edition of Ghana Carnival and Homogenous Festival “Homofest” in Accra.

Both celebrations are aimed at boosting and promoting cultural tourism to showcase the rich Ghanaian culture and heritage for socio-economic development.

The festivals are also to encourage business development and promotion through sponsorship, create value for happiness through entertainment and pleasure and forge tourism partnerships with neighbouring sister countries in a bid to promote multi-destination.

The festivals

Homofest is a festival to climax the celebration of the four main annual festivals of the Greater Accra Region.

The festivals are: Homowo, celebrated by the people of Accra; Kpledjoo, by the people of Tema; Ngmayem by the people of Dodowa, and Asafotufiam by the Adas.
It is also to promote unity, social cohesion and peaceful coexistence among the traditional authorities in the region.

The carnival in Ghana has been celebrated as a national event since 2014, when the ministry pre-tested it and made it a national event.

The national celebrations are to develop and promote the indigenous cultures into an instrument for developing the nation, while advertising opportunities in the tourism sector for employment.

The Ghana carnival is slated for July 1 and 2, 2018 and will be held on the theme: “Using art and culture to promote our economy” while the Homofest will be held on October 6, 2018 also on the theme: “Homofest, celebrating our heritage and culture.”

Launching

Launching the festivals yesterday, the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Ms Cathrine Afeku, said the ministry saw the events as an opportunity to accelerate and diversify cultural tourism products in Ghana because the country had rich cultural resource across all ethnic groups.

She said both festivals had the potential to stimulate economic growth, create employment opportunities and transform lives of people.

“Data collected and analysed from the previous events showed that the ministry and its partners are achieving the objectives of the event,” she said.

The chairman for the event, Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona VI, the paramount Chief the Osu Traditional Area, appealed to all stakeholders, particularly the public, to take a keen interest in cultural tourism and participate in all related activities.

Source: Daily Graphic