Senegal – 3rd December 2025 – Ghana has signaled strong readiness to host the 2026 edition of EcoFest, leveraging its rich cultural heritage and honoring the legacy of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the globally celebrated icon of African liberation.
Ghana’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has appealed to her colleague ministers across West Africa to support Ghana’s bid, describing it as both a cultural opportunity and a symbolic tribute to Nkrumah’s enduring legacy.
Speaking on the sidelines of this year’s EcoFest in Dakar, the Minister emphasized that hosting the festival in Ghana would not only celebrate Nkrumah’s memory but also position the country as a gateway to Africa’s cultural revival.
“I’ve been telling my colleague ministers that if they must vote on it, then Ghana should be the next one,” she said. “We are the gateway to Africa, and they should do it in honor of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and his descendants. Bring it back home to Ghana. As we celebrated the NkrumahFest, we will add it to EcoFest, and it will be a marvellous experience, I can assure them.”
The Minister noted that Ghana is fully prepared for the responsibility, pointing to its vibrant cultural heritage and the country’s commitment to hosting a festival that strengthens regional cohesion, promotes peace, and drives economic growth through cultural exchange.
This year’s EcoFest, themed “The Power of Culture,” underscores the role of arts and heritage in shaping identity, preserving traditions, boosting infrastructure development, and enhancing human capital across West Africa. Ghana hopes to build on this momentum by hosting a festival that not only celebrates culture but also stimulates investment in the creative economy.
EcoFest Ghana Focal Person, Charles Sedem Hoto, expressed optimism about the transformative potential of hosting the festival in Ghana. He stressed that EcoFest could open doors across the cultural value chain, stimulate entrepreneurship, and expand business opportunities for local creatives.
“It brings a lot of opportunity to our people. It exposes the culture of our people, and cultural entrepreneurs have an opportunity,” he said, adding that a multi-sectoral approach would amplify the festival’s economic and social impact.
With growing support and a compelling case for selection, Ghana says it is ready to take the baton, promising a spectacular and culturally rich edition of EcoFest should it be granted the 2026 hosting rights.
The Ghanaian delegation to Dakar included officials from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, led by Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Divine Owusu Ansah, Director of Culture and Creative Arts, EcoFest Ghana Focal Person, Charles Sedem Hotor, and technical officers representing Ghana’s Arts, Culture, and Creative industry institutions.
Source: Delassie Mabel Awuku – PR, MoTCCA
