Introduced by the Government of Ghana in March 2017, ‘Ghana Month’ is a celebration that takes place throughout the month of March in the West African nation of Ghana. It was established as a month-long celebration dedicated to honouring the country’s rich cultural heritage, history, achievements, and contributions to the world.
Since its inception, Ghana Month has become an annual tradition observed throughout March, with various events and activities organized across the country to showcase Ghanaian culture and promote national pride and unity. It provides an opportunity for Ghanaians, both at home and abroad, to celebrate their national identity, unity, and pride, and to promote the Ghanaian culture and heritage.
There are numerous reasons why Ghana should be acknowledged and celebrated. One of the primary reasons is Ghana’s rich cultural heritage which is showcased through Ghanaian music, dance, art, literature, and cuisine. Ghanaian culture is known for its diversity, creativity, and resilience, which reflects the contributions of various ethnic groups and historical influences.
From naming ceremonies to marriage ceremonies, puberty rites, enstoolments and enskinments, Ghana has since its birth embraced all our ethnic groups and diverse traditions, promoting cultural diversity and unity. Some few ways we can promote Ghana this month are; projecting Ghanaian fashion, eating our local dishes, and buying, supporting and promoting Ghanaian products.
Celebrating Ghana Month by donning Ghanaian fashion and clothing is a powerful means of honoring and fostering pride in Ghanaian identity. This can include a variety of traditional garments, including vibrant kente cloth, intricate adinkra symbols, exquisitely crafted smocks, African prints that are both designed and styled, as well as beads, accessories, and the stylish woven hats and bags unique to our culture. Through the display of Ghanaian fashion, we do not only pay homage to our cultural roots, but also lend support to local artisans and designers responsible for creating these distinctive pieces. Osu, a district in Accra, serves as a vivid example of cultural expression, with its streets perennially adorned with colorful displays of Ghanaian fashion and beads, showcasing the richness and diversity of our heritage.
Eating local Ghanaian foods is also an essential aspect of celebrating Ghana Month. Ghanaian cuisine is flavorful, diverse, and a representative of the country’s cultural diversity. From the spicy and aromatic jollof rice to the savoury palm nut soup with fufu, Ghanaian dishes tantalize the taste buds and provide a unique culinary experience. During Ghana Month, we can explore and enjoy traditional Ghanaian cuisine such as the Ga kenkey with shito (pepper) and any source of protein, waakye, tuozafi, banku, ampesi with kontomire, topping it up with some of our local drinks and snacks like bofrot, sobolo (hibiscus drink), lamujee (spiced rice drink), asaana, adunlee (cornmeal sticks), and kelewele (spicy fried plantain) at our local restaurants, roadside food joints, food festivals, or by cooking authentic Ghanaian recipes at home.
We cannot celebrate Ghana without buying Ghanaian products. Buying ‘Ghana’ is an impactful way to support the local economy and promote sustainable development within the country. Ghana is known for its rich natural resources, including gold, cocoa, timber, and oil. Additionally, the country has a thriving artisanal industry producing handmade crafts, textiles, jewelry, traditional artefacts and our local pots and cooking utensils that are made of clay or wood. Some of these wonderfully crafted artefacts have embellished our Adinkra symbols to further identify the richness of our culture as a people. By purchasing goods made in Ghana, whether it is clothing, artwork, or food products, individuals contribute to the growth of local businesses, empower communities, and preserve Ghana’s cultural heritage.
Most importantly, Ghana Month is not only marked by the thorough promotion of our local products and culture, but also our history and tourist sites and attractions. It is essential to explore and recommend our tourist attractions like the Kakum National Park, crocodile pond, Kwame Nkrumah Museum, Monkey Forest, the Elmina Castle, and Nzulezu the 400-year-old stilt-propped water settlement, etcetera. Sharing our experiences and history with these places across various social media platforms is a great way of promoting the Ghanaian culture and encouraging people to visit these places.
As Ghanaians, celebrating Ghana Month holds immense significance as it allows us to honour and showcase our rich cultural heritage, history, and achievements. This month, let us be intentional about celebrating our identity, unity, and pride as a nation by proudly wearing our traditional attire, indulging in our delicious cuisine, and supporting our local businesses.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Caris Adjei London
