By Hafsa Obeng, GNA
Accra, Oct. 18, GNA – The maiden edition of the Afro Gastronomy Fair 2025, dubbed AfroGastro, opened in Accra, drawing together chefs, diplomats, cultural leaders, and food lovers from across Africa and the diaspora.
This is to celebrate the continent’s diverse culinary heritage and the power of food as a tool for diplomacy.
Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Minister for Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts, highlighted the significance of African cuisine in shaping identity and fostering unity.
“AfroGastro is not just about food. It is about diplomacy. It is the most delicious form of dialogue among nations, peoples, and families,” she said.
The fair, organized on the theme: “Connecting Culture through Food, Music, and Heritage,” is more than a showcase of traditional dishes; it is an affirmation of African resilience, creativity, and interconnectedness.
“From Jollof rice rivalries that spark friendly banter among West African nations to the shared preparation of staple dishes like Kenkey, Ampesi, and Waakye, saying African food tells stories of migration, trade, and cultural evolution.”
She said, “We may call it Kenkey in Ghana, pap in South Africa, ugali in East Africa, or wokla in Zimbabwe, but it’s the same hot water and corn dough across our continent. These dishes are living archives of our history, expressing our shared heritage in delicious form.”
Madam Gomashie lauded the fair as a strategic act of culinary diplomacy, designed to not only promote African cuisine globally but also strengthen Ghana’s creative economy and open doors for investment.
She announced that litigation-free land was available for investors interested in supporting culinary education and agribusiness initiatives.
“Under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, Ghana is leveraging culture and creativity to drive economic transformation. From Panafest to December in Ghana and now AfroGastro, we are inviting the world to experience Ghana as the gateway to Africa’s cultural rebirth,” she said.
“This culinary dialogue helps us appreciate one another, not as competitors, but as partners in development, culture, and peace. Let us eat, connect, and build a shared future around our common tables.”
Mr Edmond Moukala N’Gouemo, the UNESCO Representative to Ghana, commended the initiative, calling it a “visionary model for sustainable cultural development.”
Emphasizing the fair’s relevance in the context of Ghana’s push for a 24-hour economy, the UNESCO representative celebrated the blending of food, music, and heritage as key drivers of growth.
“Cuisine is a profound narrative of history, migration, and adaptation. Music, the universal language, expresses our joys and struggles. And heritage, the foundation of our identity, shapes our future. The AfroGastro Festival is not just an event. It is a beacon of innovation and resilience.”
He expressed optimism about Ghana’s efforts to list music as an intangible cultural heritage of mankind, describing music as the “soundscape of our cities” and a vital part of the cultural economy.
Participants at the fair include foreign missions, local chefs, mixologists, creative entrepreneurs, cultural custodians, and farmers. Each embassy present is showcasing their national dishes, encouraging cross-cultural exchange and deepening diplomatic ties.
The two-day fair would include food exhibitions, musical performances, panel discussions, and cultural displays that reflect the vibrancy of the African continent.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to making the fair an annual continental event to boost tourism, promote heritage, and create jobs through Africa’s rich gastronomy.
GNA
Christian Akorlie