A National Traditional Food Festival to show­case and promote local Ghanaian dishes will be launched in August this year.The main event slated for Oc­tober 13 to 16 at the Ga Mantse's Palace in Accra is expected to attract Chefs, Food and Beverages experts and local food vendors from the 16 regions of the coun­try and will serve as a prelude to the World Food Festival.The programme is being organ­ised by Praxis Afric, an informa­tion and Education Organisation, in collaboration with the National Commission on Culture and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Creative Arts.The Country Director of Praxis Afric, Ogyegu Korankye Wontumi II, and Gyaasehene of Akwamu Kotropei told The Ghanaian Times in an interview that the event was to complement President John Dramani Maha­ma's Black Star Experience aimed at promoting Ghanaian products and services.The festival he explained would display varieties of dishes prepared in the 16 regions of the country and the best ingredients used as well as their sources.Ogyegu Wontumi II indicated that the festival would also be used to organise seminars where food experts and nutritionists would share ideas with the ingre­dient providers.He said the event which would be opened to the public would offer them the opportunity to feel the taste of the varieties of the dishes; adding that "Those in the Diaspora would also be given the opportunity to be part of the event."The Country Director noted that the types of food and the ingredients used in the olden days were different from today, hence the desire to display the prepared food to let the public judge be­tween the most delicious plate of fufu as prepared in the olden days and how it is prepared today.He said pepper to be eaten with kenkey would be blended and the other grinded to enable the patrons give their verdict.Mr Damel Carl of the National Commission of Culture said it was time the rich cultural heritage of Ghanaians were showcased to the rest of the world. BY LAWRENCE VOMAFA-AKPALU