The Ghana Cultural Forum, in collaboration with the Ghana Tourism Authority, and under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, organised this year’s Cultural Week celebration at the National Theatre of Ghana under the theme “Resetting Ghana’s Tourism, Culture and Creative Ecosystem.”
As part of the celebration, the Ghana Tourism Authority hosted the Taste 69 @ 69 event as a major highlight of the programme.
The event brought together all agencies under the Ministry, with their Chief Executive Officers and Executive Directors in attendance, demonstrating strong sector-wide collaboration in advancing Ghana’s tourism, culture and creative arts agenda.
The Taste 69 @ 69 initiative showcased 69 indigenous Ghanaian dishes in commemoration of Ghana’s 69th Independence Anniversary, highlighting the richness of Ghana’s culinary heritage and its importance in promoting domestic tourism and national identity.
As part of the event, a special celebrity cooking competition was held, adding excitement and entertainment to the celebration. The competition featured well-known Ghanaian personalities who prepared local dishes using largely Made-in-Ghana ingredients.
Contestants were judged based on ingredients used, time spent in preparation, taste, presentation, and overall creativity in serving their meals.
At the end of the competition, Kumawood actor Mr Beautiful emerged as the overall winner after impressing the judges with a unique Ghanaian recipe in which he used ordinary coconut to prepare a special oil-fried rice dish, demonstrating innovation with local ingredients.
Actress Gloria Sarfo placed as the first runner-up, while Roselyn Ngissah emerged as the second runner-up. William Nomad placed fourth, with Victoria Lebene taking the fifth position.
The competition drew a large crowd and created a lively atmosphere at the National Theatre, with patrons enjoying the blend of food, culture, entertainment and friendly rivalry, making it one of the most exciting moments of the Cultural Week celebration.
In her remarks, the Hon. Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts,
Dzifa Abla Gomashie, emphasised that Cultural Week remains an important national platform for preserving Ghana’s heritage while positioning culture as a driver of economic growth. She noted that Ghana’s traditions, festivals, music and cuisine must be projected to the world as valuable national assets capable of creating jobs and strengthening the tourism industry.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority
stated that Taste 69 @ 69 was deliberately organised to support Government policy on promoting domestic tourism and deepening appreciation for Ghanaian culture, stressing that Ghanaian cuisine remains a powerful tool for attracting visitors and strengthening national pride.
Also addressing the gathering, the Head of Office of UNESCO commended Ghana for sustaining Cultural Week activities and using them as a means of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage through food, music, festivals and traditional leadership.
The programme was skilfully steered by the Master of Ceremony, the Queen Mother from
Kumasi, whose presence added traditional dignity and cultural depth to the occasion.
The event also attracted members of the diplomatic community, notably a delegation from the United States Embassy in Ghana led by Press Attaché Matthew Asada, together with the Cultural Attaché and her team, reflecting the strong cultural cooperation between Ghana and its international partners.
The colourful celebration at the National Theatre featured traditional music, cultural displays and a rich exhibition of Ghanaian cuisine, reaffirming the commitment of the Ministry and its agencies to promote culture as a pillar for tourism development and national identity.
