Ghana Events, Things to Do and Festivals 2014 / 2015

(Ghana, GH, Western Africa)

Ghana is a country that is particularly good at celebrating, whether it is to honour local ancestors, the harvest, rites of passage, or the start of the fishing season. At any rate, Ghana's many festivals and seasonal things to do offer visitors a fascinating glimpse into the country's culture and heritage.

Traditional events are held throughout the year in African towns and villages up and down the country. It is well worth checking to see if your itinerary coincides with any of them, or timing your visit around one of the biggest annual festivals or local 'get-togethers'.

Ghana Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• Bugum Festival - celebrated with processions, festive drumming and dancing. This popular gathering has its origins in Islam
• Edina Buronya - held on the first Thursday of the New Year by the people of Elmina. This is essentially the Ghanaian version of Christmas, established during the time of the Dutch colonialists. As well as a fish-catching ritual, there is also a great deal of drumming and dancing throughout this event

February

• Dzawuwu Festival - every year in February the people of the Agave region stage this thanksgiving festival. The main festivities include offerings to the gods, traditional dancing and a colourful durbar of chiefs

March

• Gologo Festival - a three-day event, rated by the Talensi people of Tong-Zug and held to ensure there is a lot of rain and, therefore, a good harvest

April

• Willa - held in Takpo, this important celebration gives thanks to ancestors
• Bobum - marking the initiation of girls into womanhood, taking place some 80 km / 50 miles to the north of Accra

May

• Aboakyir Festival - held near Accra, this deer hunt remains popular with local Winneba people. Two traditional warrior groups compete to catch a live antelope as a test of bravery and strength

June

• Environmental Film Festival of Accra - a unique event in Africa. Holy Gardens in Accra is the venue for open-air screenings each June, which are attended by literally thousands of people. Films include dramas and documentaries. The Environmental Film Festival of Accra is aimed at both entertaining and educating local people, with a different environmental theme each year

July

• Bakatue - held in Elmina, the start of the fishing season is celebrated with a procession of chiefs and regatta
• Panfest - a showcase of Ghanaian culture and pan-Africanism. Staged every two years, the Panfest attracts people from all over Africa. Music, dance and drama performances are staged, as well as chieftain reception

August

• Homowo - a harvest celebration held in the area around Accra, with offerings of festive food to the gods and ancestors of the local people
• Yam Festival - an event that has long been popular among Ghanaians. Yams are offered to ancestors and gods before being distributed among the villagers

September

• Damba - a traditional two-day long festival held in the north of Ghana, offering much in the way of pomp and pageantry. There are also displays of horse riding
• GEREU - the Ghana European Business Trade Fair, attracting 70-odd exhibitors and thousands of professional visitors associated with everything from the Ghanaian food industry to construction and mining

October

• Fetu Afaye - including a procession, drumming and dancing in remembrance of the first contact of Ghanaians and their colonial visitors

November

• Dodoleglime - a historic event held in the Hohoe District of Ghana's Volta Region, remembering the escape of the people of that region from tyrannical rule back in the 17th century
• Hogbetsotso - this colourful fiesta is held in Honloga, some 140 km / 87 miles east of Accra, in the Volta Region of Ghana. Celebrations start on the first Saturday of November each year and last for a week. As well as a durbar, dancing and drumming play a large part in this event

December

• Fiok - a December festival held in Andema and reliving the culture of war among the Busa people. Expect lots of drumming and dancing, and general partying African style