The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park came alive today with vibrant sights and sounds, as Ghana’s Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, officially launched the Afro-Gastro Festival Programme—a cultural initiative celebrating African and Afro-descendant culinary heritage across the globe.
Welcoming dignitaries, members of the diplomatic corps, cultural practitioners, and media personnel, Hon. Gomashie described the programme as “the beginning of an important cultural journey.”

“The Afro-Gastro Festival is not just another event on our cultural calendar,” she said. “It is a celebration of our shared culinary heritage—a recognition of the ways in which food, beyond nourishment, serves as a powerful tool for cultural identity, historical memory, and human connection.”
Scheduled to culminate in a grand festival in October, the Afro-Gastro Festival Programme will feature a series of events, including food exhibitions, theatrical and cultural performances, storytelling sessions, workshops, and panel discussions. 

The aim is to create a vibrant platform for chefs, artists, researchers, cultural organizations, and members of the African diaspora to explore how food can serve as a medium for diplomacy, connection, and creativity.

Hon. Gomashie emphasized that every dish carries a story—not only of ingredients and flavors but also of resilience, migration, and identity.

“Whether it’s Waakye in Accra, Jollof in Dakar, Callaloo in Bridgetown, or Moi Moi in Lagos, we are tasting more than food—we are tasting history,” she remarked.

The launch event also provided an opportunity to engage stakeholders and foster international collaboration. 

Hon. Gomashie acknowledged the presence of diplomatic missions and expressed gratitude to the organizing committee, ministry staff, implementing agencies, partners, and the media for their support.

“To the people of Ghana, we say: this festival is for you,” she declared. “Your culture, your food, your stories, your creativity—these are the heartbeat of this programme.”

She concluded her address with a powerful African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
She called on all stakeholders to unite in building cultural bridges through food and storytelling.

Mr. Phillips, representing H.E. Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland, High Commissioner of Barbados to Ghana, also delivered remarks highlighting the power of gastronomy as a universal language. He emphasized the importance of creativity and passion in shaping development.

“When people pursue their passion, they don’t need jobs—they need navigation. Gastronomy, like photography, transcends words. A well-prepared dish carries with it centuries of knowledge, migration, and survival,” he said.

He noted that African talent has profoundly influenced the global culinary imagination and affirmed that the Afro-Gastro Festival is about more than delicious food—it is also about diplomacy, education, and cultural pride.

“In Barbados, we believe the future of development lies in the creative economy—through culinary arts, culture, and tourism that respects and uplifts heritage.”

As Ghana prepares to host the inaugural festival in October, the Afro-Gastro Festival promises to become a landmark celebration—where every heritage is honored, every dish tells a story, and everyone has a seat at the table.

Sompaonline.com Delassie Mabel Awuku