By Patrick Ofoe Nudzi, GNA
Accra, Oct. 29, GNA – Ghana, through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, in partnership with the African Union Development Agency–New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD), has officially launched the African Festival of Arts, Culture and Creatives (AFESTACC) 2026.
The festival aims to celebrate Africa’s cultural heritage, showcase creative talent, strengthen partnerships and unlock the economic potential of the continent’s cultural and creative industries.
Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, said about 600 participants with diverse expertise would come in connection with AUDA-NEPAD to engage with Ghanaians communities with a focus on the youth to explore.
She said the festival would demonstrate their the spirit of unity, innovation, partnership and development to solve African problems as preached and lived by Africa’s forebears including Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere and Patrice Lumumba.
“We’re looking at AFESTACC as that connection between the past, today and the future. And it started with Afro-Gastro, which we held last year here in Ghana. And now we’ve expanded it to include others,” the Minister said.
The festival comes off December 9 to 11 and it is opened to the 55 African countries including the diaspora where investors, creative professionals, curators, academia, traditional authorities, government agencies, private sector participants and innovators.
Mr Symerre Grey-Johnson, Director for Human Capital and Institutional Development at AUDA-NEPAD, said the initiative would create opportunities for investment and deliver lasting benefits for the continent.
He said the inclusion of AFESTACC in Ghana’s official December in GH calendar was a significant milestone in promoting the country as a destination for African arts, culture and creative industries.
Mr Grey-Johnson said preparations were intensifying, with six weeks remaining before the festival, and called for stronger coordination among stakeholders to ensure successful delivery.
He said the 2026 programme would bring together AFESTACC and Industrial Skills Week Africa (ISWA 2026), linking the creative economy with industrial skills development and entrepreneurship.
The collaboration is expected to create opportunities for young people while fostering partnerships and investment across Africa’s creative industries.
Mr Grey-Johnson said Ghana was well positioned to host the festival because of its rich cultural heritage, vibrant creative industries and contribution to the Pan-African agenda.
He said AUDA-NEPAD hoped to establish AFESTACC as a sustainable continental platform beyond its inaugural edition in Ghana.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade
Patrick Ofoe Nudzi