GhanaFest Alberta 2025 to Promote Ghanaian Culture in Canada


Edmonton: The third edition of GhanaFest Alberta is scheduled to be held from July 25 to 27, 2025, in Edmonton, Canada. The two-day festival, which is being organised under the theme ‘Bridging cultures from Ghana to the world’, is expected to promote unity and appreciation for Ghanaian culture within Canada’s multicultural society.



According to Ghana News Agency, the event is organised by GhanaFest Alberta Incorporated in partnership with the Diaspora Africa Forum (DAF), the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), and the National Commission on Culture (NCC). At a press briefing in Accra, Mr. Johnathan Mingle, Head of Business and Sponsorship at GhanaFest Alberta Incorporated, said the festival serves as a platform to showcase Ghanaian heritage and culture to a global audience. He mentioned that Ghana’s culture, which includes music, dance, food, and arts, provides an opportunity for both Ghanaian-Canadians and non-Ghanaians to experience authentic Ghanaian traditions.



Mr. Mingle explained that the first day of the festival would be open to all, offering a chance for attendees to experience various aspects of Ghanaian culture. He said that the second day would feature stage plays and performances, culminating in a grand durbar of chiefs from different parts of Ghana. The third day would be marked by musical concerts featuring various artistes, with organisers expecting over 5,000 attendees each day. Reflecting on last year’s festival, he described it as successful and said this year’s edition would be more exciting due to the involvement of more artistes and traditional leaders.



Mrs. Maame Afua Houadjeto, Chief Executive Officer of GTA, reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to supporting initiatives that market Ghanaian products internationally. ‘Our core mandate is to promote Ghana, so when we have partners helping to promote Ghana in their own ways, we give them our full support,’ she said. She underscored the importance of networking and international partnerships, advising Ghanaian entrepreneurs to focus not just on sales but on building strategic relationships to expand their market reach. ‘Your packaging is everything. It sells you before you even speak. If your product can compete internationally, then you are on the right track,’ she emphasised. Houadjeto stressed that Ghana must move beyond waiting for international partners to discover its potential, adding, ‘They must come to Ghana to partner with us, and that is key.’



Dr Erieka Bennett, Founder and Head of Mission, Diaspora Africa Forum, commended the organisers, stating, ‘This is an example of what we can do when we pull ourselves together as Black people.’ Mr. Richard Jones Gyasi, Technical Advisor, NCC, highlighted the festival’s role in bridging the cultural gap between Ghana and Canada. ‘As a people, we are defined by our culture, and that is the identity we present wherever we go. The NCC is excited to participate in this event to sell Ghana to the diaspora and invite them to discover their roots,’ he said.