The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Ablah Dzifa Gomashie, has stated that Ghana’s food industry has the power to drive economic growth, preserve the country’s culture, and earn global recognition.
Speaking at the opening day of the Afro Gastro Festival, held at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park on October 17, 2025, under the theme “Connecting Cultures through Food, Music and Heritage,” the minister said the initiative goes beyond celebration and exhibition.
She said it represents a strategic effort to nurture a new wave of chefs and innovators who will redefine African gastronomy on the world stage.
According to her, the Afro Gastro Festival is not an event to showcase dishes but an investment in the future of Afro-cuisine.
“Through partnerships with hospitality institutions, culinary schools, local farmers and creative entrepreneurs, we are nurturing a new generation of chefs and innovators who will not only preserve our culinary traditions but also reimagine them for the global stage.
“Therefore, this fair is not just a showcase; it is an investment in the future of Afro-cuisine, a platform for collaboration and a catalyst for economic empowerment,” she said.
The minister explained that the global culinary industry is worth several trillions of dollars, adding that Ghana has the potential to tap into this vast market through creativity, innovation and collaboration across sectors.
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Dzifa Gomashie noted that the Ministry’s collaboration with stakeholders such as hospitality institutions, culinary schools and farmers is a step toward transforming Ghana’s food culture into a global attraction.
“The global culinary industry is a multi-trillion dollar economy. From food festivals to cooking tourism, the sector offers immense potential for job creation, export diversification and creative entrepreneurship.
“This is why the Ministry is working closely with our key stakeholders to position Ghana’s gastronomy as an integral part of our creative economy,” she stated.
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