The plush East Winter Garden located at Canary Wharf in London hosted the maiden edition of Made In Ghana-UK Festival, which saw a different new event added to the UK big-league of events, including Ghana Party In the Park, Ghana Music Awards UK and Miss Ghana UK.
Originally billed to comprise of Trade Show, Durbar of Chiefs, etc; #MIGHUK22 managed to showcase the best of Ghanaian International Fashion and Musical performances after it was postponed last summer due to organizers inability to secure visas for major Ghanaian companies (exhibitors and sponsors) and Paramount Chiefs from various reputable traditional councils to attend the Festival.
According to a source at Made In Ghana Consulting Ltd, organisers of the festival, “Moving forward, we have had couple of meetings with His Excellency Keith McMahon, Deputy British High Commissioner to improve visa issues that compromised the wow-factor of the Festival”, says the source.
The Fashion Show was produced and managed by UK-based Ghanaian Designer Tetteh Plahar. Other Ghanaian international designers who displayed their 2023 indigenous collections include: Joyce Kavanagh of JTAphrique, Kwame Koranteng, Doudou of London, Abrantee The gentleman, Cut Out by BB etc.
There were superb performances by Jupitar, Flowking Stone, One Tribe, Rudy Sandele, Article Wan, Frank Nero, all backed by PatchBay band led by Philip Acquah and Gabby. DJ Kobby and DJ Special D provided the best Ghanaian music throughout the night. The event was hosted by promising MC Abigail DK, who doubles as the Communications Director of Made In Ghana-UK Festival.
Made in Ghana-UK Festival was organized by Made in Ghana Consulting Ltd, Pan African Arts Society (PAAS), Base Empire, Showbiz Africa, Laboro GH, EIB Network, with invaluable support from UK-based event outfits Hunter Production, Akwaaba UK, DJ Skinny and Orenzo Entertainment. It was supported by National Lottery Authority (NLA), Loncha Ghana Ltd, Ghana Post, DLA Outdoor (Advertising), TapTap Send, National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), Miss Ghana UK Foundation, Nala, Lemonade Finance, UNAfrik and GHOne TV.
MIGHUK’22 was organized in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration (ECTIB); Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture and Ghana High Commission, UK; with immense support from His Excellency Papa Owusu Ankomah- Ghana High Commissioner to the UK; Honourable Thomas Mbomba- Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister; Dasebre Kwebu Ewusi VII- Paramount Chief of Abeadze Traditional Area; and Nana Obokese- CEO, Ghana Chieftaincy Awards.
According to Verus Nartey, CEO, made in Ghana UK Consulting: “as organisers, we are putting in place the right measures and correcting all hitches experienced at the maiden edition to ensure future editions of this special event attract the right numbers”. He added that: “At least, there will be six (6) months of planning and effective marketing and engaging the right suppliers in the UK to attract the right participation in the next event. Details of the second edition, including venue, date and innovative new additions will be announced at the ‘2023 MIGHUK Pre-Event’ to be held in Accra in May 2023.”