Ghana is set to host the 2025 African Gastronomy (AfroGastro) Festival from October 17–18, 2025, at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, bringing together chefs, artists, and cultural delegations from across the African continent and the diaspora.
The two-day festival, organized by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts, aims at celebrating African food, music, and culture.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Tuesday, the Minister for Culture, Tourism and Creative Arts, Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, announced that this year’s edition of the Afro Gastro Festival will bring together twelve African Union (AU) member states, making it one of the most vibrant cultural gatherings on the continent.
The participating countries will showcase their distinct cuisines, music, dance, and artistic expressions under one platform that highlights Africa’s unity in diversity.
Madam Gomashie explained that the AfroGastro Festival forms part of the broader Black Star Experience, an initiative designed to highlight Africa’s heritage and promote cultural diplomacy.
“Food nourishes us, but it also speaks to who we are,” she said, emphasizing the shared culinary traditions that connect Africans across the continent and the diaspora.
The Minister stressed that the AfroGastro Festival is not merely a food fair but an immersive cultural experience integrating gastronomy, art, music, and tourism. The event will feature live band performances, cultural displays, and interactive cooking sessions, allowing visitors to engage directly with African chefs and culinary experts.
Among the highlights of the festival will be a special appearance by celebrated Ghanaian chef Faila Abdul Razak, who will prepare Ghana Jollof, a symbolic dish in the ongoing “Jollof debate” across West Africa.
The Minister also disclosed that the AfroGastro Festival will be a long-term cultural initiative, not a one-time event. It aims to strengthen Ghana’s position as a leading cultural tourism destination in Africa.
She added that the festival aligns with the government’s vision of leveraging the creative arts and tourism sectors as major drivers of economic growth and social cohesion.
“Beyond promoting our culinary heritage, AfroGastro is designed to encourage domestic tourism and empower local communities,” she noted.
Madam Gomashie revealed that participating countries will include Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, the Netherlands, India, and Lebanon.
These nations will join culinary delegations from across Africa, including Nigeria, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, and the host nation, Ghana.
She further noted that all 16 regions of Ghana will be represented with their signature dishes, from kenkey and fried fish along the coast to tuo zaafi and dawadawa-based soups from the north, showcasing the nation’s rich culinary diversity.
Madam Gomashie called on Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to identify and promote unique cultural attractions within their regions.
She expressed gratitude to the media, sponsors, and international partners for their continued support.
Judith Twumwaa, ISD
