By Rebecca Ampah
In a striking blend of history, symbolism and performance, three horses and a camel were used to deliver a formal invitation by the African Festival to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
The creative activation, which featured a representation of Kwame Nkrumah mounted on the camel, with three horses in tow, was aimed at drawing attention to the power and visibility of Ghana’s creative industry.
Ahead of the African Festival scheduled for December 28 to 30 at the Accra International Conference Centre, the magnificent spectacular mounted by the renowned Playwrite and theatre producer Latif Abubakar of Globe Productions was a scene in the true sense of the word.
Presenting the invitation, Latif Abubakar described the African Festival as Africa’s biggest cultural night, offering immersive theatre, exhibitions and stakeholder engagements. He announced that institutions such as the ECOWAS Bank and Oakwood Advisory will be present to engage creatives on funding opportunities and financial structuring for creative projects.
According to him, the festival will feature a major exhibition and attract respected creatives and advisory board members from across the continent, including Ghana and Nigeria.
Central to this year’s programme is the play ” The Second Coming of Nkrumah.” which he said is anchored on three pillars; selflessness, self-reliance and unity. It is to promote economic emancipation in Africa through collective action and shared responsibility.
The three-day festival will open with Don Quixote on Day One, followed by The Second Coming of Nkrumah on Day Two, with activities climaxing on Day Three.
Access to the event will be through a unique passport-style premium ticket, with each day represented as a visa, alongside standard tickets to ensure inclusivity for a wider audience.
Receiving the delegation, the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dzifa Abla Gomashie, praised the initiative and reaffirmed the ministry’s support for creative-led tourism.
She described theatre as a vital educational tool that enhances language skills, confidence, cultural awareness and talent discovery among young people.
She further commended Globe Productions for setting new benchmarks in creative execution.
She noted that this year’s African Festival would serve as a reference point for the sector.
“Knowing what you’re capable of doing, this year will also be an example and a landmark activity for us to make reference to”.
She added that the inclusion of heritage and religious tourism elements aligns with the ministry’s broader agenda to position Ghana as a leading destination for cultural, creative and experiential tourism.
The African Festival is expected to once again transform December in Accra into a celebration of African identity, history and creativity, reinforcing Ghana’s role as a hub for arts and cultural tourism on the continent.
