The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts on Wednesday launched the Afro Gastro Festival Programme in Accra, marking the beginning of an exciting cultural initiative aimed at celebrating Ghana's rich culinary and artistic heritage.The launch scheduled for October this year will feature food exhibitions, cultural performances, theatre, storytelling, workshops, and dialogues to highlight how food serves as a tool for diplomacy, identity, and economic opportunity.Speaking at the launch, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Ms Abla Dzifa Gomashie said the presence of the various dignitaries at the event was a symbolism of the cultural bridges that the country aim to build through the Afro Gastro Festival initiative, while expressing gratitude to them.She explained that the Afro Gastro Festival, an offshoot of the Black Star Experience, was designed to celebrate Africa's shared culinary heritage by bringing together Africans and Afro-descendants from across the world."The idea behind this festival is simple but profound - that a plate of food tells a story of love, migration, resilience, creativity and belonging, playfully comparing dishes such as Ghana's "Gob3", Dakar's Jollof and Lagos' "Moi Moi," she said.Recounting her experience in cooking and selling Ghanaian dishes across the Caribbean, the Americas and Africa, Ms Gomashie stressed that food goes beyond nourishment."It reflects our history, our traditions, and the ties that bind us as people of African descent," she said.The minister also called on researchers to investigate agricultural challenges, noting concerns about the short shelf life of vegetables.She commended the organising committee, ministry staff, implementing agencies and partners for their dedication, reaffirming the ministry's commitment to making the festival a success.Quoting an Africa proverb, she concluded, "If you want to go fast, go alone.
If you want to go far, go together."Ms Gomashie emphasised that the Afro Gastro Festival would be "a table where everyone has a seat, every heritage is honoured, and every story is tasted."The event, she said, was expected to attract chefs, artists, cultural organisations and members of the diaspora, positioning Ghana as a hub for African culinary diplomacy and cultural tourism. BY EUGENE AMPIAW
