GhanaWeb Feature by Isaac Dadzie
It’s December once again, and for those in Africa, especially Ghana, it comes with the influx of diasporans and tourists trooping in to celebrate the Christmas holidays with family or just to revel in the various events that will take place over the course of the month.
But one observation some locals have made about the diasporans is that many of them, when asked about their plans, simply say they are “coming to celebrate Detty December in Ghana,” a phrase that reflects their intention to immerse themselves in the country’s many festive events.
However, this particular term, ‘Detty December’, has been a bone of contention among some government appointees who insist on using the term ‘December in Ghana’ in place of ‘Detty December.’
But this raises an important question: if both phrases refer to the same thing, why the controversy?
‘Why I’m not a fan of Detty December’ – KOD explains
What is December in Ghana?
The true origins of the term remain disputed. Various personalities and media houses claim the crown for originating the term.
According to a 2024 report by myjoyonline, entertainment personality and former CEO of Vibe FM, Mike Cooke, claimed to have started the term together with event organiser Akwaaba UK as far back as 1998.
“For those interested in the facts, the concept of ‘December in Ghana’ was initiated by Vibe FM and Akwaaba UK as far back as 1998.
“Radical Dee of Akwaaba UK and I leveraged Vibe FM’s December Carnival and events to promote these festivities to the diaspora. Many can attest to Vibe FM’s Champagne Parties, All White and All Black Parties at Boomerang, and the establishment of Monarch, Britannia, and Ghana Tours in our travel market,” Mike Cooke was reported to have said.
However, another entertainment personality and former CEO of 3Music TV gave a different account, claiming that the term was originated by Live FM in 2016.
“Live FM already started December in GH in 2016,” Baba Sadiq said, according to myjoyonline.
But one more account remains, and this one happens to be documented.
In 2019, the term was propagated by the then Akufo-Addo administration as part of the Year of Return initiative, which sought to boost diasporan interest in Ghana.
The initiative worked, bringing in thousands of diasporans and raking in $1.9 billion in 2019 and $3.3 billion in 2020.
Since then, December in Ghana has been the government-approved month for marking activities in the country.
However, as of 2019, another term cropped up, which would overtake the official term.
Detty December
In 2019, the term “Detty December” was first coined by Ghanaian brand consultant Bernard Kafui Sokpe during a December concert for popular Nigerian artiste, Mr Eazi.
“At that time, we used to call him ‘Detty Boy’. So for that December concert, ‘Life is Easy’, we decided to call it ‘Detty December because it was just going to be a fun December, an exciting December. It was like showing the full limits of enjoying December to the max,” he said in an interview with GhanaWeb‘s Isaac Dadzie.
According to him, “Detty” is a playful adaptation of the Ghanaian expression “dirty your body,” which refers to engaging in fun activities that might leave one physically messed up but emotionally happy.
“It’s like when kids go out to play and come back home dirty; that shows they really had a good time,” he added.
Over time, “Detty December” has evolved into a cultural phenomenon, marked by a series of events, concerts, and gatherings that celebrate Ghanaian heritage and attract visitors worldwide.
How the term ‘Detty December’ originated – Founder explains
A clash of names
Today, if you Google ‘December in Ghana’ you are more likely to see results with the term ‘Detty December’ instead.
More and more diasporans and Gen Z in Ghana tend to use the term rather than the government-approved December in Ghana.
But despite the popularity of the edgy term, some government appointees find Detty December problematic.
In May 2025, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, expressed strong objections to the term “Detty December,” arguing that it portrays Ghana as a destination for unscrupulous activities.
The Director of Diaspora Affairs, Kofi Okyere Darko, aka KOD, said in a recent interview with the Ghanaian Times that he does not fully embrace the concept.
“Personally, I am not a great fan of Detty December… “Many people from the Diaspora are coming to Ghana. They are not all coming to have fun. Some people are here for business opportunities as well, so we want to go beyond the Detty December, great opportunities to network and bring money home,” he said.
Does the name matter?
While many in government feel the term may be taken literally and used as an excuse for debauchery, proponents of the “Detty December” term argue that it is not about promoting immoral behavior but about celebrating Ghanaian culture and boosting tourism.
Whatever the case, Detty December has overtaken December in Ghana as the official term. What matters is how the government can capitalise on the month itself to generate the much-needed revenue and name in the international markets.
But that itself may be short-lived. Nigeria has reportedly adopted the ‘Detty December’ term, with some of their online news reports crediting the country as the origin of the term.
ID/EB
