The launch event took place on June 13, 2024, at Alliance Française in Accra
The Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) has launched GHANAFEST-Paris Olympics and Paralympics 2024, an initiative aimed at promoting Ghanaian tourism, music, culture, and arts on a global stage during the upcoming Paris Olympics and Paralympics.
The launch event took place on June 13, 2024, at Alliance Française in Accra.
Themed "Driving Strategic Investment Opportunities through Tourism, Culture, and Sports," GHANAFEST is designed to align with the Ghanaian government's "Destination Ghana" program, which was launched in April 2022.
This initiative seeks to position Ghana as a premier travel destination worldwide, leveraging the international spotlight of the Olympics and Paralympics to highlight the country's rich cultural heritage and vibrant arts scene.
In his address, the President of MUSIGA, the legendary Highlife musician Bessa Simons, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration with Showbiz Global Concert Company, which will organize the event.
He highlighted the significance of the event in promoting Ghanaian music and tourism.
"We see it as our duty to support the 'Destination Ghana' program, as its success is intrinsically linked to the success of Ghanaian music and MUSIGA," he stated.
He emphasized that GHANAFEST would offer significant financial benefits to individual artists and contribute to the preservation of Ghana's musical history.
He encouraged members to take advantage of training programs and workshops to enhance their skills for performing at international events like GHANAFEST-Paris 2024.
He expressed gratitude to all partners and urged like-minded organizations to join in realizing the program's objectives.
GHANAFEST-Paris 2024 is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, MUSIGA, and Showbiz Global Concert.
The festival aims to capitalize on the large audience expected at the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, running from July to September 2024, to market Ghanaian tourism and culture.
The program will feature musical concerts, an Afro-food bazaar, and exhibitions of Ghanaian artifacts and tourism expos.
The event will kick off with a musical fiesta in Paris on August 3, 2024, showcasing performances by renowned Ghanaian artists Bessa Simons, Kofi Kinaata, and Sister Efya.
A cultural extravaganza will follow on August 31, 2024, coinciding with the Paralympics, featuring additional performances and exhibitions.
Charles Parker Allotey, CEO of Showbiz Global Concepts, outlined their mission to celebrate and promote Ghana's cultural heritage through fashion, music, and artifacts.
"Our vision is to be the leading global platform for cultural exposition, where fashion, music, and artifacts converge to create a dynamic and inclusive cultural narrative," he said.
He also underscored the potential economic impact, noting that Ghana's travel and tourism sector contributed about 3.4 billion U.S. dollars to the GDP in 2022, with projections indicating further growth.
Ben Nunu Mensah, President of the Ghana Olympic Committee, added, "Ghana is very unique; we are Africans, but we are unique in our own ways. It is that uniqueness that makes people want to come to Ghana.
"Why would somebody want to come to Ghana instead of going to Nigeria? Trust me, we are the friendliest country in the world, and this message has to go out there. The best people to do this are the artists, the musicians, and what we are going to do in Paris."
The program was also graced by the Director of the National Commission on Culture, Nana Otuahene Acheampong; Chief Director at the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, John Yaw Agbeko; veteran musician, Pozo Hayes; Reggae Dancehall artiste, Ras Kuuku; among others.
