The Ghana Tourism Authority has unveiled the official calendar for this year’s December in GH, with more than 150 events registered nationwide and Accra accounting for over 100 planned activities.
The launch, held at Labadi Beach Hotel, brought together stakeholders from the tourism, culture and creative arts sectors to discuss the country’s festive season programme under the Black Star Experience.
In her speech, the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, urged stakeholders to focus on showcasing the country’s culture, heritage and hospitality rather than debating the name of the festive season.
While acknowledging the popularity of the term “Detty December”, particularly among young people, the Minister said emphasis should be placed on encouraging more people to Experience Ghana.
This year’s celebration is being held under the theme “Ghana to the World”, reflecting the country’s ambition to promote its cultural identity, creative industries and hospitality to international audiences.
The Minister described December as an important period for Ghana’s tourism industry and a homecoming for Ghanaians abroad, Africans in the diaspora and friends of Ghana.
She stressed that the initiative’s success should be measured not only by visitor numbers and entertainment events but also by the economic opportunities generated for local communities and investment.
Gomashie called for the benefits of the festive season to reach a broad range of businesses and professionals, including tour operators, hoteliers, content creators, musicians, fashion designers, artisans and young entrepreneurs.
The Minister also announced that Ghana is collaborating with the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) to host the inaugural African Festival of Arts, Culture and Creatives (AFESTACC) from 9 to 12 December 2026. The event is expected to bring together stakeholders from across Africa and the diaspora to celebrate African creativity, strengthen cultural exchange and explore investment opportunities in the creative economy.
She urged tourism and hospitality businesses to prioritise service excellence, visitor safety and reasonable pricing, noting that every interaction contributes to Ghana’s reputation as a welcoming destination.
Visitors are also encouraged to explore attractions beyond Accra, highlighting the importance of promoting tourism across all 16 regions.
In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Maame Efua Houadjeto, described December in GH as an opportunity for visitors to experience the country through its music, festivals, heritage sites, cuisine, fashion and community celebrations.
The GTA CEO urged event organisers to give Ghanaian performers and creatives prominent roles, fair compensation and opportunities to reach international audiences. She also encouraged businesses to work more closely with local suppliers and entrepreneurs to ensure that tourism spending supports livelihoods.
Houadjeto disclosed that more than 150 events had already been registered nationwide for the 2026 festive season, with Accra accounting for more than 100 planned activities.
The 2026 edition of December in GH is scheduled to run from 1 December 2026 to 3 January 2027 as part of Ghana’s broader Black Star Experience tourism initiative.
Through the campaign, Ghana hopes to strengthen its position as a destination for cultural and heritage tourism while turning the festive season into a platform for sustainable economic growth, creative expression and deeper connections with the global African community.
