Month: December 2023

Mr. Francis Abudu Zimmaleh, a chartered accountant and consultant, has highlighted the potential impact of the 24-hour economic policy concept on Ghana’s financial sector and advocated it be depoliticized and scrutinised for its optimal utilisation.

The economic strategy aims to extend the operating hours of businesses beyond the regular 0900 hours to 1700 hours across various sectors.

The initiative is expected to stimulate financial and economic activities, according to its proponents, leading to the creation of more employment opportunities.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr. Zimmaleh highlighted the benefits of the strategy, such as lowering operational costs, promoting financial innovation, tackling regulatory and infrastructural challenges, and improving financial stability and inclusion.

According to him, once the policy is put into action, it will effectively address the economic challenge of time differences with other nations and make transactions faster and more convenient.

In ad
dition, it would help in the efficient handling of perishable farm products like fish and tomatoes, so customers can save on loan interest repayments.

Since Mr. John Dramani Mahama, the former president and candidate for the National Democratic Congress, proposed the 24-hour economy policy, there has been a lot of public discussion about it.

He insisted that it would increase productivity, solve Ghana’s unemployment crisis, which now stands at 14 per cent, and revitalise the economy.

Mr. Zimmaleh applauded the economic strategy as a move that could substantially benefit?the country’s?financial and?services sectors to improve their performances for overall economic growth.

He pointed out the potential of the initiative to improve financial inclusion and alleviate poverty by making financial services more widely available and accessible to individuals and businesses.

It could also lead to expanding access to banking, insurance, and mobile money.

He further stressed the potential benefits of enhancing fina
ncial stability through diversifying income and expenditure sources, which could help mitigate the financial sector’s vulnerability to shocks and crises.

‘By creating a more dynamic and competitive environment, the 24-hour economy could foster financial innovation and encourage the development of new products and services that meet the needs and preferences of customers,’ he said.

However, he indicated that it was important to acknowledge that the implementation and impact of the 24-hour economy policy may encounter certain challenges and risks, which should be debated dispassionately and not politicised.

Still, he expressed optimism about the potential of a 24-hour economy policy to revolutionise Ghana’s economy and generate employment opportunities. He urged the need for meticulous planning, coordination, and investment to guarantee its success and viability.

He also encouraged Mr. Mahama and his team of experts to create a thorough and all-encompassing policy guideline that considers a wide range of op
inions for successful implementation and inclusive development, ultimately leading to national peace.

Source: Ghana News Agency

As part of activities to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has undertaken a public awareness procession to engage people on the scheme.

The Northern Regional office of the NHIA embarked on a float on the principal streets of Tamale, stopping at densely populated areas to educate residents on the use of the ‘MYNHIS’ mobile application.

Staff of the NHIA across the region, during the float, distributed flyers that had the details of the mobile application and guided residents through the step-by-step process of downloading and installing it.

The MYNHIS mobile application is available on the Google and Apple stores to serve purposes of registering onto the NHIS as well as providing vital information to improve accessibility to the scheme.

Mr Abdul Latif Issahaque, Northern Regional Director of NHIA, addressing the media after the exercise, said it was in response to Executive Management direction to educate the pub
lic

towards increasing membership of the scheme without the inconvenience of joining long queues at district offices.

He said the staff strength of the authority had improved with offices in all regions in the country, adding those were signs of growth in 20 years.

He said the scheme was challenged with third party activities that hindered transparency in delivery, adding that arrangements were ongoing to counter such acts.

He said, ‘We sign contracts with service providers to offer services on our behalf and over the years, there have been some malpractices.’

Mr Issahaque commended the media and staff of the NHIA for their relentless contributions to the growth in services of the NHIS, urging enhanced partnership to curb illegal dealings associated with the scheme.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has taken advantage of the ongoing Volta Trade and Investment Fair to educate patrons and exhibitors on the Party’s 24-hour Economy Policy proposal.

The Fair underway at the Ho Jubilee Park is on the theme: ‘Leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for Economic Development.’

Mr Elikem Kotoko, Deputy National Organizer of the Party, speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) disclosed that the ‘NDC felt the need to cash in on every available opportunity to reach out to Ghanaians and explain in detail our policies’.

He said former President John Dramani Mahama’s 24-hour Economy Policy proposed as one of his policies, when elected to power in December 2024, had made news over the past few days.

Mr Kotoko said since the Party was in support of the ongoing Fair, they saw it as an opportunity to also engage with the people and explain to them what the policies sought to do.

‘We have therefore printed some leaflets which explain frequently asked questions
and answers to be given out to people who will come to the stand.’

Mr Kotoko said beyond the Fair, the Party had plans to continue to engage the citizenry about policies of the Party using media platforms and any other opportunities that would present itself and seized them to explain all other policies by the Flagbearer.

He said one of the policies included the licensure examination, which Mr Mahama felt could not be a stand-alone policy by the government.

Mr Kotoko said the Fair was a brilliant programme and anything that sought to advance development must be welcomed by all.

He said governance was for the people, hence any programme aimed at developing the people meant it would expand the economy and government itself would be a beneficiary.

Mr Kotoko said the personalities across the continent gracing the Fair meant that it proposed a lot of business opportunities for the country, opening the frontiers to business and the economy to the benefit of all.

He commended the Party’s Regional Executives, T
ertiary Education Institutions Network (TEIN) and the youth who would assist to share the leaflets to patrons.

Source: Ghana News Agency

An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced a businessman to 48 months imprisonment for stealing a 2015 Model Toyota Corolla Saloon car valued at GHC127,000.

Hope Elikem Afortukpe, charged with stealing, pleaded guilty.

The court presided over by Mr Isaac Addo convicted the accused person on his plea and sentenced him accordingly.

The prosecution led by Chief Inspector Jonas Lawer told the court that the complainant Patience Dukuly was a housewife and resident of Tema Community 25.

The prosecution said Afortukpe also resided at Woe in the Volta Region.

Chief Inspector Lawer said the complainant and the accused person, now convict, had been friends since December 2022.

The prosecution said in February 2023, Afortukpe lured the complainant to sell her white 2015 model Toyota Corolla car with registration number GR 2819-23 valued at GHC127,000.

The prosecution said Afortukpe took the car from the complainant and sold it to one Dorcas at Kintampo at a cost of GHC90,000.

It said the accused person, after selling
the car, went into hiding and efforts by the complainant to get back her car or money proved futile.

It said luck eluded Afortukpe when he was nabbed in a fraud case, and he was identified by the complainant.

The prosecution said Afortukpe admitted the offence in his caution statement.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Upper East Region has postponed its celebration of the 39th edition of Farmers’ Day to Friday, December 8, 2023.

In a statement signed and copied to the Ghana News Agency by Alhaji Abubakari Inusah, the Chief Director of the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council, the decision was taken after a meeting of the Planning Committee on Friday November 24, 2023.

The statement attributed the postponement of the celebration to the recent financial challenges, which had made it difficult to commemorate it in all the 15 Municipal and Districts and the need to centralise the celebration at one location.

‘That the districts needed some time to reorganise themselves for the celebration since it was an innovation.

‘In view of this, it has been decided to reschedule the celebration from Friday, December 1, Friday to December 8, 2023’, it said.

The statement indicated that celebration would be held at the Jubilee Park in Bolgatanga, where all the districts would converge with their awards and awardees.

‘In view
of this, the Municipal and District Assemblies are hereby requested to furnish the Regional Planning Committee with the number of persons who would be participating at the regional level for budgeting purposes,’ it added.

Source: Ghana News Agency

OXFAM, a Non-governmental Organisation (NGO), and its partners have engaged traditional and religious leaders in the Upper West Region on promoting positive social norms and addressing the negative social norms in the region.

The engagement, which formed part of the implementation of the European Union (EU)-funded ENOUGH project, was to involve the traditional and religious leaders in ending Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV).

Available data indicated a marginal reduction in the reported cases of SGBV in the Upper West Region from 2021 to November 2023.

The data showed that 248 cases of SGBV were recorded in 2021 with 74 being males and 174 being females while in 2022, 200 cases were recorded out of which 35 were males and 165 were females, while 104 cases were recorded between January and November 2023 with 71 of them being males and 33 being females.

Issues of SGBV were rape, defilement; abduction; indecent assault, assault; attempted child marriage and threat o
f death.

Addressing the participants at the forum, Madam Thelma Hayford, the Gender Advisor for the ENOUGH project at OXFAM, explained that traditional and religious leaders were very influential people in society and could contribute significantly to addressing the issue of SGBV and other negative social norms.

‘It is imperative we bring together the religious leaders and traditional leaders, they are the custodians of our customs and traditions, once we have their buy-in, we are assured that they will safeguard the interest of all members of the society,’ she explained.

Madam Hayford observed that perpetrators of SGBV sought refuge in influential people in society, including traditional and religious leaders, to interfere with the prosecution of such cases making it more imperative to involve them in the fight against the menace.

The participants were also introduced to the available legal framework on SGBV, and to let the traditional leaders know their limit in the cases they could adjudicate.

Madam C
harity Batuure, the Upper West Regional Director of the Department of Gender, indicated that the rate of SGBV in the region was alarming and stressed the need for concerted efforts to nib the practice in the bud.

Madam Batuure said traditional and religious leaders had a role to play in reducing the issue of SGBV if not ending it entirely.

‘Emotional abuse is a silent killer because we cannot see it, but it is the one that is killing many people in our communities’, the Gender Director observed, and advocated a safe space for people to report SGBV.

She encouraged people who suffered SGBV to report to the appropriate authorities, including her department or the police for the necessary action to be taken against the perpetrators since there was trust in the court systems as far as issues of SGBV were concerned.

Some traditional and religious leaders at the forum pledged to promote positive social norms and women’s rights geared towards ending SGBV and IPV in their respective jurisdictions.

They recognised
the urgent need for action to promote social norms that were sensitive to the well-being of women as well as to protect and promote the rights of women.

The traditional and religious leaders signed a declaration to affirm their commitment to, among other things, foster positive social change, uphold women’s rights, and ensure access to justice for survivors of gender-based violence.

Speaking at the forum, Naa Jaafar Natasun Pelpuo, the Chief of Biihe in the Wala Traditional Council, stressed the need for parents to develop a ‘friendly’ relationship with their children to enable them report issues of abuse to their parents for action.

He said he had instituted some measures in his traditional area, including a watchdog committee to help curb the menace of teenage pregnancy in the area, which was yielding positive results.

The Queenmothers at the forum said they would lobby for queenmothers to play a role in counselling prospective couples as part of efforts to help curb the menace of Domestic Violence (DV)
among couples.

Pognaa Fuseina Darimani, Paramount Queenmother of Guli, emphasised economic empowerment for young women before they married for them to support in caring for the family since the frustration of the man shouldering that responsibility also led to DV.

Gender Desk Officers, representatives of Civil Society Organisations, government agencies and departments among others attended the forum organised by OXFAM in partnership with Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF), RUWA Ghana and the Upper West Regional Department of Gender.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Ken Ofori- Atta, the Minister for Finance, has launched a five-year strategic plan for the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The strategy, which starts from 2023 has five goals and 60 initiatives in line with the vision of making the Commission a top-tier securities market regulator in Africa.

The strategy is to deepen and expand markets, enhance market awareness and education, build capacity and capability of SEC, strengthen market infrastructure, and develop a robust legal and regulatory framework.

The plan was launched at the SEC’s Ghana Capital Market Conference, which formed part of activities to mark the 25th anniversary of the Commission.

The theme for the event was, ‘Deepening and Diversifying Ghana’s Capital Market Towards a more Resilient Financial System’.

Mr Ofori-Atta said for a sector that contributed to about 14 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and impacted about 10 million of the country’s population, there was the need to ensure that the sector had more positive impac
t on the economy.

He said government was committed to deploying targeted policies initiatives to diversify the investor base, reduce external dependency and broaden market participation within the sector.

‘Among some of these initiatives is the development of the framework for domestic credit rating agencies, which will provide impartial assessment of companies and securities,’ he said.

Reverend Ogbarmey Tetteh, the Director-General of SEC, said the fast-changing financial landscape presented unique challenges to stakeholders of the capital market.

The situation, he noted, demanded the country’s financial markets to ‘evolve, innovate and develop versatile investment products’.

From the regulator perspective, he said SEC had over the last five years introduced 22 guidelines to ensure a more robust and resilient capital market.

‘SEC is poised to churn out a series of new guidelines that support the deepening and diversification of the market.

‘The forthcoming Guidelines on Crowdfunding, Green bonds, Fina
ncial Resources, Market Making, Margin Trading, Securities Lending, Borrowing, and Asset-Backed Securities will contribute to strengthening the market’s resilience,’ he said.

He said the Commission had started the implementation of a Risk-Based Supervision framework, which was a migrate from the compliance-based supervision mode of operators.

SEC was established in September 1998 and had its name changed from the Securities Regulatory Commission to the Securities and Exchange Commission through a parliamentary decree in 2000 (Act 590).

Subsequently, the enactment of the Securities Industry Act, 2016 (Act 929), expanded the SEC’s powers, thereby replacing the previous Securities Industry Law, 1993 (PNDCL 333).

Source: Ghana News Agency

Extreme hunger and malnutrition continues to be an obstacle to sustainable development, trapping people in a cycle they cannot easily escape.

Hunger and malnutrition result in less productive individuals, more susceptible to disease and often unable to earn more and improve their livelihoods.

Since 2015, there has been an alarming rise in the global issue of hunger and food insecurity.

The trend has been exacerbated by a combination of factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts, climate change, non-adherence to smart agriculture and sustainable agronomic practices.

The United Nations (UN) estimates that by 2022, approximately 735 million people or 9.2 per cent of the world’s population were found in a state of chronic hunger – a staggering rise compared to 2019.

This data underscores the severity of the situation, revealing a growing crisis, particularly for developing countries such as Ghana, which has over the years relied fairly on food importation to feed the growing population.

The ongoin
g rise in hunger and food insecurity, caused by a complex interplay of factors, demands prompt attention, and concerted worldwide action to address the critical humanitarian crisis.

Of course, farmers and fishers cannot be overlooked in the drive to remedy the current situation.

‘We all want our families to have enough food to eat what is safe and nutritious. A world with zero hunger can positively impact our economies, health, education, equality, and social development,’ says Dr. Bryan Acheampong, Ghana’s Minister of Food and Agriculture.

It is heartening that the country, which has designated December 1 as a day of recognition for farmers and fishers, is working hard to combat food insecurity through various policies and programmes.

This year (2023), the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) is holding the 39th National Farmers’ Day Celebration on the theme: ‘Delivering Smart Solutions for Sustainable Food Security and Resilience’.

The event espouses the government’s unwavering commitment to invest
in the agricultural sector, which is critical for reducing hunger and poverty, improving food security, creating employment, and building resilience to disasters and shocks.

‘It is critical to identify and deliver smart solutions that can enhance the food system’s resilience and ensure sustainable food security,’ Dr. Acheampong told the media, in a briefing, ahead of the commemoration of the Day.

He noted that the country currently grapples with low agricultural output, limited market access, and climate change – a narrative that the government is determined to reverse.

This year’s Farmers’ Day Celebration is intended to portray the country’s ambition of achieving food security and resilience as it ushers in phase two of the Planting for Food and Agriculture (PfJ) initiative.

The initiative is a transformative policy that aims to consolidate and build on earlier efforts under the initial PfJ.

It seeks to address peculiar challenges within the sector identified after an extensive review process.

The Mini
ster mentioned that the PFJ One was hampered by limited access and high credit costs to agriculture value chain actors, barriers to entry into agribusinesses, particularly for young prospective farmers, poor access to high-quality inputs, unsustainable subsidies, and unstructured agricultural produce markets.

‘The overall goal of the PFJ phase two is to transform and modernise agriculture in Ghana through the development of initially, eleven selected agricultural value chains with active private-sector participation.’

A key component of this phase is the ‘Youth in Agriculture Programme,’ which aims to empower and support young individuals to engage in commercial crop farming.

It has been designed to address the challenges young farmers face in securing land and resources for farming.

This legacy initiative focuses on promoting commercial farming, igniting passion among youth, and creating sustainable employment opportunities.

The project is expected to make significant contributions to food and nutrition
security, inflation reduction, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, and the creation of sustainable employment opportunities for youth in agriculture.

Under the programme, beneficiary youth farmers will receive training on modern farm management practices, 10 acres each of land already developed for farming under the guidance of experienced aggregators assigned by the project.

The beneficiaries will also receive input credit such as seeds, fertilizers, agrochemicals and services like extension, and mechanisation support -ploughing, harrowing, planting, spraying, among others.

A monthly stipend covering the first production cycle of the respective agricultural value chain will also be provided to ensure their success.

In terms of marketing, Dr. Bryan indicated that harvested produce would be sold to off-takers, and profits shared between the project and beneficiaries to ensure sustainability and to boost the income of beneficiaries.

Additionally, the project intends to construct low-cost affordable single
-room farm housing facilities, storage houses, adequate water, and other support infrastructure within the enclaves to support production.

The project aims to reach 200,000 young farmers as beneficiaries, who will together cultivate and manage over one million acres over the five-year program.

The MoFA says each beneficiary will be engaged for six months, during which they will receive training and support.

It is expected that, by the end of this period, they should have accumulated enough capital and adequate experience to independently manage their fields and cover associated costs for the next production cycle.

‘A comparative analysis of crop budgets suggests that beneficiaries, under the project, will realise over 400 per cent profit margin compared with conventional farmers cultivating the same acreage elsewhere.

‘This is certainly a game-changer for farming in Ghana,’ he noted.

The year’s Farmers’ Day Celebration was preceded by a five-day National Agricultural Festival, ‘Agrifest Ghana 2023′, whi
ch ran from Monday, November 27 to Friday, December 1.

A total of 15 award categories will be recognised at the climax of the event, including Overall National Best Farmer, First Runner-Up National Best Farmer, Second Runner-Up National Best Farmer, National Best Livestock Farmer, National Best Female Farmer, and National Best Physically Challenged Farmer.

The others are Overall National Best Fisher, National Best Marine Fisher, National Best Inland Fisher, National Best Fisher Farmer, National Best Fish Processor, National Best Cocoa Farmer, National Best Most Promising Young Cocoa Farmer, National Best Most Enterprising Cocoa Female Farmer, and National Best Shea Nut Picker.

The National Farmers’ Day was instituted by the Government in 1985 in recognition of the vital role farmers and fishers play in the Ghanaian economy.

This was done to highlight the remarkable output of farmers and fishers in 1984 (around 30% growth registered), following the difficult agricultural years of 1982 and 1983.

The annual
celebration is the biggest statutory obligation that provides the platform to celebrate Ghanaian farmers and fishers for their contribution to the economy.

It is not just about awards, but a celebration of the entire agriculture and fishing community – from innovative farming techniques to sustainable practices in fishing.

The overwhelming consensus around the celebrations attests to the nation’s profound appreciation of the role and contribution of farmers to national development.

Indeed, we must constantly remind ourselves that farmers and fishers are critical to the nation’s economic fortunes.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimates that Agriculture contributes to about 54 per cent of Ghana’s GDP and accounts for over 40 per cent of export earnings, while at the same time providing over 90 per cent of the food needs of the country.

The agricultural sector also absorbs a lot of labour force and provides raw materials for industrial growth and development.

In 2019, the share of agricultur
e in the country’s GDP was 17.31 percent, industry contributed approximately 31.99 percent and the services sector contributed about 44.14 percent.

It is difficult to envision the country’s fate without farmers and fishers, especially given that Ghana’s economy is built on agriculture.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has launched a short code on the MTN and Vodafone networks to allow individuals and groups to donate to the HIV Fund.

The short code *9898# would allow the public to make cash contributions to the fund to aid in the country’s HIV response.

Mrs Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, Chief of Staff, who launched the short code at the 2023 World AIDS Day National Durbar, also stated that the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) had guided the country in concluding the Global Fund Grant Cycle seven applications for 2024-2026.

‘I am also aware of the strenuous efforts the GAC is making at mobilising additional resources to finance the national response.

‘I therefore invite corporate Ghana, Ghanaians both at home and abroad, to donate their widow’s mite to the fund in whichever way possible,’ she said.

World AIDS Day, observed annually on December 1, is an international day dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS epidemic caused by the spread of HIV infection and mourning those who have d
ied because of the disease.

The 2023 celebration is on the theme; ‘Let Communities Lead.’

Mrs. Osei-Opare stated that one of the key causes of the disproportionate HIV disease burden among women and girls was gender inequality.

Two out of three Ghanaians living with HIV are women, while four out five new infections, in young people aged 15 to 24 years, are adolescents, girls and women.

The Chief of Staff expressed grave concern that adolescents and young people account for 28% of total new HIV infections in the country.

To end AIDS, she stated that inequality, stigma, and prejudice in all their forms must be eliminated, and that promotion of female child education must be vital in helping to cut new infections among them by 50 per cent.

Speaking on the various interventions the government had undertaken in ending stigma, discrimination, and inequality, Mrs Osei-Opare announced that the Government had accepted to join the Global Partnership.

This would not only boost Ghana’s position in the fight to end
AIDS by 2030 but would also help to meet the Sustainable Development Goals.

‘We have the tools and expertise in place to end AIDS, we can, and must, join forces to achieve it, ‘ she added.

The Chief of Staff urged the GAC to use its rich public health response knowledge to bolster ongoing efforts against emerging pandemics and how they relate to HIV and AIDS.

Dr Kyeremeh Atuahene, the Director General Ghana AIDS Commission, said the country only possesed 33 per cent of the total funding required for the national response over the next three years, and that the other 67 per cent must be raised domestically.

According to him, the GAC was implementing a five-year resource mobilisation strategy to address the funding gap.

Dr. Atuahene stated that the Commission was developing an investment case for the HIV and AIDS response for the first time in collaboration with its partners UNAIDS, PEPFAR, and the Global Fund to provide realistic resource allocation options that ensure lower unit cost, cost effectiveness,
and value for money.

‘In addition to the investment case, we are conducting sustainable assessment and planning, which ultimately will produce a national HIV and AIDS Financial Sustainability Plan.

‘These products will guide government resource allocation decisions and make a strong business case for the private sector to contribute to finance the HIV response in a sustainable manner,’ he added.

Mr Rolf Olson, Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy, offered the US Embassy’s continued assistance and advised the public to test more frequently and seek counselling.

Mr. Hector Sucilla Perez, Country Director of UNAIDS in Ghana, urged government institutions involved in the HIV response, traditional leaders, authorities, and development partners to improve work coordination with communities.

The Deputy Minister of Health, NAP+ Ghana representative, Ghana HIV and AIDS Network (GHANET), Dr Stephen Ayisi Addo, Dr Kwaku Afriyie, Executive Oversight Minister of GAC and Minister of MESTI, traditional leaders, am
ong other dignitaries were present at the durbar.

The GAC honoured some individuals and staff for their outstanding performance towards HIV response in the country.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ghana’s December festivities, christened ‘December in GH’ have become arguably the ‘cash cow’ for the country’s tourism sector, strongly driving tourism during the busy December season for travels to Ghana.

This year’s December in GH is finally here as celebrations start sparingly at the beginning of December, which is expected to hit the climax in the last two weeks of December and to the first week of January 2024.

Put together yearly to promote Ghana as a December holiday season destination, the event is when Ghanaians break their ‘piggy banks’, call their loved ones and go on enjoyment spree.

December in GH undoubtedly has become a time to look out for the festive calendar and this year promises not only to be fun but also fully packed with surprises and an exciting line up with an enchanting fireworks display.

Last year, award-winning artist, Sarkodie and world acclaimed comedian Michael Blackson, treated participants to good music.

This year’s event seeks to take the celebration a step higher by c
aptivating the audience with a dynamic fusion of music, dance, fashion, and artistic expression.

Seasoned artists and personalities from across the African continent together with their audiences would celebrate the rich diversity and unity that defines Africa.

From heart-pounding musical performances that span genres to mesmerising choreography that showcases the continent’s dance heritage and keeps attendees on the edge of their seats will characterise the events.

The two game changers in the promotion of the ‘December in GH’ are ‘Year of Return’ and ‘Beyond the Return’, making Ghana a December entertainment hub and a night life hotspot for the diaspora during the festive season.

A rapidly growing percentage of the African diaspora has made Ghana their prime destination to wind off after a year-long hustle and bustle.

Mr Kwasi Agyeman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GTA, said this year’s events would be hosted in multiple regions across the country ranging from traditional festivals to concerts, fash
ion shows, sporting events, and community projects.

Launching the events, he said the entire celebrations would be connected to the foundational pillars of the ‘Beyond the Return’ initiative – Experience Ghana, Celebrate

Ghana, Diaspora Pathways to Ghana, Brand Ghana, and Give Back Ghana, Invest in Ghana and Promote Pan African Heritage and Innovation.

This year’s calendar includes over 92 events endorsed by the Beyond the Return Steering Committee

Some of the events on the calendar include YouTube Creators Festival Ghana, Rhythms on da Runway, Little Havana, Anwamoo Festival, Eats and Beats Food and Music Festival, Cultural Oneness Festival, Home Coming Bash, December Ghana Garden and Flower Show (GGFS), RiverFest23, Adinkra Carnival, and Tadifest.

The Greater Accra Region would host 78 events, while the Eastern, Northern, Central, Upper East and Volta Regions would host 12 events.

Some notable events are the Bhim Concept by Reggae Dancehall superstar, Stonebwoy, ‘Count Down Africa,’ the Wildaland Fe
stival and Afrochella, one of the biggest musical festivals.

On December 18, there would be ‘Welcome Ghana’, December 23 and 24 would give revelers ‘Taste Ghana,’ the ‘Journey to the West’ would come off December 23 to 28 and ‘Rock the Boat Ghana’ would take place on December 27.

Also, ‘Afrochella’ festival comes off from December 27 to January 3, whilst ‘Afronation’ is scheduled for December 29 and 30.

‘All Black Party’ would take place on December 28 to 30.

Source: Ghana News Agency