Bridge54-led Ghana month event strengthens Ghana-Ethiopia relations

Bridge54, in partnership with the Black Star Experience and Kuriftu Resorts, has concluded a Ghana Month in Ethiopia initiative aimed at strengthening cultural, tourism, and business relations between Ghana and Ethiopia.

The programme brought together tourism leaders, government officials, business representatives, creatives, entrepreneurs, hospitality operators, chefs, and entertainment stakeholders from both countries.

According to the organisers, the initiative provided a platform for Ghanaian institutions and businesses to engage with Ethiopian stakeholders while showcasing Ghana's culture, tourism offerings, products, cuisine, and investment opportunities to audiences in East Africa.

The event attracted several notable figures, including Abeiku Santana, Rex Omar, Bola Ray, representatives of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) and the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), as well as Ethiopian tourism officials such as Biniam Taye Endeshaw, Deputy Commissioner of the Addis Ababa City Tourism Commission, and H.E. Ato Sileshi Girma, State Minister for Tourism.

Participating Ghanaian organisations and brands included the GIPC, GTA, GTP, 57 Chocolate, Skin Gourmet, fashion brands, food entrepreneurs, and other small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

One of the key activities was the Intra-African Trade and Tourism Forum, where stakeholders discussed opportunities for collaboration in tourism, business, and cultural exchange. Discussions included the possibility of promoting Ghana and Ethiopia as complementary travel destinations and strengthening partnerships between institutions in both countries.

The programme also featured a culinary exchange. A chef from the Ghana Food Movement travelled to Ethiopia, where he prepared Ghanaian dishes and trained hospitality staff at Kuriftu African Village in the preparation of local Ghanaian cuisine.

Several cultural activations were organised during the event, including the "Bridge Bar," which combined Ghanaian chocolate and Ethiopian coffee experiences, and "Bridge Glow," a concept inspired by Ghanaian shea butter products and Ethiopian wellness traditions.

Organisers said one outcome of the initiative was an agreement to explore opportunities for Ghanaian vendors to showcase and sell products at Kuriftu African Village, potentially extending the programme's impact beyond the event period.

Bridge54 also used the platform to advocate for closer cooperation between Accra and Addis Ababa, including discussions around a possible twin-city arrangement.

Another highlight was the introduction of the Rhythm & Brunch Ghana event to Ethiopia for the first time. The event featured music, food, and social activities, offering Ethiopian audiences an opportunity to experience a Ghanaian lifestyle and entertainment concept.

Organisers said the Ghana-Ethiopia partnership is expected to continue through future cultural, tourism, business, food, and entertainment exchanges involving stakeholders from both countries.

They noted that the initiative forms part of broader efforts to promote intra-African collaboration and strengthen people-to-people connections across the continent.