By Michael Foli Jackidy
Ho (V/R), Sept 12, GNA – Mrs. Lydia Nyarko-Ampomah, Volta Regional Director for the Centre for National Culture (CNC), has described the just-ended Traditional Cuisine Festival as a “resounding success,” crediting its impact to the strong collaboration between stakeholders across the region.
The festival, organised in partnership with GBC’s Volta Star Radio, brought together government officials, media practitioners, gender and tourism advocates, and most importantly, students from various schools.
Mrs. Nyarko-Ampomah, in an interview with Ghana News Agency (GNA), said the active participation of students was crucial, as many young people were gradually abandoning local dishes in favour of fast foods such as instant noodles and fried rice.
“The festival gave us the opportunity to teach students about the nutritional value of our local foods. Many of them saw, for the first time, traditional meals they had only heard about. We want the youth to appreciate that eating local food is not a sign of poverty, but a healthy lifestyle that preserves our culture,” she said.
She added that the overwhelming feedback has encouraged CNC to make the festival an annual event, with a vision to expand participation. Plans are underway to involve all 18 districts of the Volta Region, each showcasing their unique food heritage.
“If every district brings their own special dishes, we will get deeper into our roots, discover hidden recipes, and exhibit an even wider variety of foodstuffs,” she noted.
Mrs. Nyarko-Ampomah urged sponsors and stakeholders to come on board to support and grow the initiative.
She said: “Culture is our way of life—our language, our dress, our food. Just as Christianity has become part of our culture because it is now a way of life, so too must we embrace and celebrate our traditional foods. People travel far and wide to see originality, not photocopies. If we package our culture well, we will not only preserve it but also benefit economically through cultural tourism.”
She explained that well-presented festivals like the cuisine event could attract visitors interested in Ghana’s cultural heritage—from food to dress, music, and traditional ceremonies.
“Tourism thrives on uniqueness. Nobody will travel to learn how to prepare instant noodles. They will come to see our original dishes, our ceremonies, our way of life. That is why we must invest in our culture and present it with pride,” she stressed.
The Director concluded by reaffirming CNC’s commitment to using culture as a driver of social cohesion, education, and economic growth through cultural tourism.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Benjamin Mensah