LifeStyle of 2026-10-23
Christmas is going local! NCC unveils two-day cultural festival
The National Commission on Culture (NCC) has launched Black Star Christmas – Christmas the Ghanaian Way, a new cultural festival aimed at bringing Ghana’s traditions, food, music, fashion and artistic expressions to the centre of the festive season.
The two-day event is scheduled for December 23 and 24, 2026, at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park in Accra. Organisers say it will celebrate Ghana’s cultural identity while creating opportunities for local businesses, creative professionals and tourism operators.
Launched on October 20, 2026, at the Arts Centre in Accra, the festival is being organised by the NCC in collaboration with GD Visionary and other partners, with the ambition of establishing it as an annual fixture on Ghana’s cultural calendar.
The programme is expected to feature cultural performances, traditional processions, exhibitions, local cuisine, fashion displays, live music, dance and family-friendly activities.
Speaking at the launch, NCC Executive Director Wakefield Ackuaku said the initiative draws inspiration from the government’s flagship Black Star Experience and seeks to make Ghanaian culture a central part of how the country celebrates Christmas.
He explained that the festival would offer visitors an opportunity to experience Ghana’s cultural heritage in a festive setting, particularly members of the African diaspora visiting the country during the Christmas season.
The initiative comes as Ghana continues to position its cultural heritage as an attraction for international visitors and members of the diaspora who travel home during the December festive period.
Speaking on behalf of the Director of GD Visionary, Dzifa Abequaye Gray stressed that culture must be treated as more than an occasional celebration, arguing that it can support tourism, entrepreneurship and national development.
“Culture must move beyond occasional celebrations and become a sustainable platform for tourism, business, creativity, and national development,” she said.
She expressed confidence that Black Star Christmas would open up opportunities for local businesses and creatives while strengthening Ghana’s cultural ties with the African diaspora.
Director of Diaspora Affairs at the Presidency, Kofi Okyere Darko, popularly known as KOD, also encouraged Ghanaians living abroad to take part in the festival and experience “Christmas the Ghanaian way.”
For the NCC, the festival represents an opportunity to bring Ghana’s diverse cultural traditions together under one platform, reinforce national identity and demonstrate the economic potential of the creative and cultural industries.
Beyond entertainment, the organisers are positioning the event as a platform through which Ghanaian food, fashion, music, dance and traditional practices can reach wider audiences while creating commercial opportunities for local creatives and businesses.
The Commission has called on the public, corporate organisations, cultural institutions and other stakeholders to support and participate in the festival.
With the inaugural edition scheduled for December 23 and 24 at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park, the organisers will be looking to turn Black Star Christmas into a recognisable annual event that gives Ghanaian cultural expression a more prominent place in the country’s festive celebrations.
EA
