Ghana to host African Festival of Arts, Culture and Creatives in December

Ghana will host the inaugural African Festival of Arts, Culture and Creatives (AFESTACC 2026) in Accra from December 9 to 12, with organisers aiming to promote the continent’s cultural heritage, strengthen Pan-African collaboration and unlock economic opportunities in the creative industries.

The festival is being organised by the African Union Development Agency–New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts.

It is expected to bring together artists, cultural practitioners, creative entrepreneurs and other stakeholders to explore partnerships and investment opportunities across Africa’s creative economy.

Speaking at the festival’s launch in Accra, Tourism Minister Dzifa Gomashie described the initiative as one of the proudest highlights of her two-year tenure, saying it reflects her ambition to harness culture for Ghana’s development and broader continental cooperation.

“It has been a dream of mine to explore the power of culture and what it can offer our country and the African continent as a whole,” she said.

Ms Gomashie expressed appreciation to Afro Union for supporting the vision and helping to bring the festival to fruition.

She said AFESTACC draws inspiration from the Pan-African ideals championed by leaders including Ghana’s first President, Kwame Nkrumah, and Tanzania’s Julius Nyerere.

“AFESTACC is about us as the children of Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere and the other African leaders on whose shoulders we stand today. These were leaders who took great pride in Pan-Africanism,” she said.

The Minister described the festival as a bridge between Africa’s past, present and future. She said it builds on the foundation of AfroGastro, hosted by Ghana in 2025, while expanding the focus to encompass a broader range of African cultural expressions and identity.

She urged the media and the public to support the initiative and help showcase Africa’s cultural heritage.

Organisers move into implementation phase

Meanwhile, AUDA-NEPAD’s Director for Human Capital and Institutional Development, Symerre Grey-Johnson, says preparations for AFESTACC 2026 have entered a critical phase, with organisers shifting their focus from planning to implementation.

Speaking during an engagement with the Minister and other stakeholders in Accra, Mr Grey-Johnson said the approaching festival required teams to agree on outstanding priorities, responsibilities and key decisions.

“When our technical team first visited Ghana in August, we were approximately 17 weeks away from the Festival. Today, we are just six weeks away, and preparations are now kicking into full gear,” he said.

He was speaking on behalf of AUDA-NEPAD Chief Executive Officer Nardos Bekele-Thomas and thanked the Ghanaian government for its partnership and support.

Mr Grey-Johnson also welcomed the inclusion of AFESTACC in Ghana’s official December in GH calendar, saying it would boost the festival’s visibility and reinforce the country’s position as a destination for African arts, culture and creative industries.

“For AUDA-NEPAD, AFESTACC is much more than a Festival. It represents an important Pan-African platform to celebrate Africa’s cultural heritage, showcase our creative talent, strengthen partnerships and, importantly, unlock the economic potential of our creative and cultural industries,” he said.

AFESTACC to run alongside Industrial Skills Week Africa

The festival is also expected to converge with Industrial Skills Week Africa (ISWA 2026), bringing together activities and discussions on the creative economy, industrial skills development and entrepreneurship.

Mr Grey-Johnson said the combined programme would create opportunities to connect creative talent with skills development and enterprise, particularly for young people.

Organisers hope the event will go beyond celebrating Africa’s cultural diversity to generate partnerships, attract investment and deliver lasting economic benefits.

Mr Grey-Johnson said engagement with the Ministry was intended to secure leadership alignment and build momentum for the successful delivery of both programmes in December.

He expressed hope that the inaugural edition would establish the foundation for AFESTACC to develop into a sustainable continental platform.

Ghana’s cultural heritage, vibrant creative industries and historic contribution to Pan-Africanism, he added, make the country a fitting host for the initiative.

The four-day festival is expected to bring together stakeholders from the arts, culture, tourism and creative sectors to celebrate African identity and explore opportunities for collaboration and economic growth.