Festivals · Holidays · Detty December
Events in Ghana
The Ghanaian year, month by month — traditional festivals, national holidays and the December season the world flies in for.
Annual calendar · confirm exact dates yearly
January
New Year beach parties
Kokrobite, Ada and Cape Coast fill up every New Year’s Day.
March
Independence Day — 6 March
National parade at Black Star Square; Ghana will mark 70 years in 2027.
April
Kwahu Easter
Paragliding festival and street parties on the Kwahu escarpment.
May
Aboakyer Festival
Winneba’s famous deer-hunting festival of the Effutu people.
June
Bakatue Festival
Elmina’s Bakatue opens the Benya Lagoon fishing season.
July
Panafest & Emancipation
Cape Coast and Elmina host diaspora homecomings; Emancipation Day is 1 August.
August
Homowo & Chale Wote
Ga Homowo harvest festival, then Accra’s Chale Wote street art festival.
September
Fetu Afahye
Cape Coast’s Oguaa festival with regatta and durbar.
November
Hogbetsotso & Damba
Anlo-Ewe Hogbetsotso in Anloga; Damba celebrated across Dagbon.
December
Detty December
AfroFuture, concerts and diaspora season — book everything early.
Planning a trip? Festival dates shift slightly each year — confirm with organisers before booking. For December, reserve flights and hotels by September at the latest.
Events FAQs
What is Detty December in Ghana?
December in Accra has become West Africa’s biggest party season — headlined by AfroFuture (formerly Afrochella), concerts, beach events and a huge diaspora return. Hotels and flights sell out months ahead.
When is Homowo celebrated?
Homowo, the Ga harvest festival famous for kpokpoi, is celebrated in August, climaxing in Ga Mashie with chiefs sprinkling the traditional meal. Dates shift slightly each year — confirm closer to the time.
Which Ghana festivals should tourists plan around?
Chale Wote (August, Accra street art), Hogbetsotso (November, Anloga), Aboakyer (May, Winneba), Panafest (Cape Coast, biennial) and Kwahu Easter (April paragliding). Pair any of them with Elmina and Cape Coast castles.
Stay safe out there: emergency numbers & hospitals.