As part of the 64th Independence Day celebrations which fell on 6th March 2021, TV3 Ghana has declared the month of March as a ‘Ghana Month’. This is essentially focused on everything ”made in Ghana”; it’s in sync with Ghana’s cultural heritage, traditional music ensembles, art, creativity, craftsmanship, aesthetics, fashion, lifestyle, and entertainment. In a nutshell, it’s a time when Ghanaians celebrate and appreciate what’s produced locally, to be precise ”made in Ghana goods and services’’.
Within this period, everyone is poised for action, revisiting and reminiscing on our historical perspectives and indigenous cultural heritage which has a certain lineage with our ancestors and have been inherited and modernised with a better idea to make us feel proudly Ghanaian at this very moment. With experiences drawn from the 16 regions of Ghana, namely Greater Accra, Ashanti, Central, Eastern, Western, Volta, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Savanna, North East, Bono East, Oti, Ahafo, Bono and Western North.
Specifically, the Government also encourages wearing made in Ghana, in such a way that, on Friday workers all over Ghana wear African print inspired outfits. We love our aesthetics”, for sure Ghanaians have developed a love for their very own, and that is key to unlock the potentials we have. There’s that deep sense of togetherness which is just like being happy for others and their incredible achievements. There’s nothing like trying to be discontent to see others prosper that has consistently become the bedrock for our development and of course education which is primarily important. Recently, in a State of the Nation Address, Ghana’s President, Nana Akufo Addo said clearly, “I am passionate about the education of every child in Ghana because education opens doors,” he remarked.
To promote and develop domestic tourism through Ghanaian cultural expressions, the Ghana Tourism Authority with its partner agencies outdoor ”See Ghana, Eat Ghana, Wear Ghana, Feel Ghana campaign in 2017 at the gardens of Christianborg Castle ( a former slaveholding and administrative seat of colonial government) in ways that rekindled the “I am a Ghanaian spirit”. The ‘Ghana Month’ will help the younger generation to get to know what it was like to become what it’s until today.
In another development, the government of Ghana declared 2019 as a Year of Return for Africans in the diaspora. This initiative was aimed at inspiring and encouraging members of the African diaspora to visit Ghana it was a great success. The Year of Return Ghana 2019, was linked to the 400th anniversary of slaves landing in the US. It attracted a lot of black celebrities, including American comedian Steve Harvey, rapper Cardi B, actor Boris Kodjoe, Actress Nicole Ari Parker, professional wrestler Kofi Kingston, rapper Rick Ross, singer-songwriter Akon, British model, Naomi Campbell, Actor Idris among others. People saw and recognised Ghana as a country with a rich cultural experience.
According to the Ministry of Tourism, the annual total of foreign visitors in 2019 was between nine hundred thousand and one million, it fetched Ghana a wholesome $1.9bn which boosted the economy greatly.
