2025 Afro-Gastro Festival ends with call for investment in African culinary tourism

The maiden edition of the African Gastronomy Festival 2025 (Afro-Gastro) has ended with a call on the private sector, the creative industry, and development partners to invest in African food brands, culinary tourism, and food innovation hubs as catalysts for economic transformation.

The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, made the call at the closing ceremony of the fair on Saturday in Accra.

She emphasised the power of cultural exchange and creative collaboration as tools for diplomacy, investment, and national pride.

“See food not only as nourishment, but as a development tool, a thread that links agriculture, medicine, technology, health, and industry. Have some respect for food; it brings everything together,” she said.

The Minister expressed gratitude to the festival’s partners, sponsors, and diplomatic missions, highlighting their support in promoting Ghanaian and African gastronomy on the global stage.

She noted that the event had successfully showcased the rich diversity of African cuisine, culture, and creativity, uniting generations and nations through food.

“I’m truly overwhelmed by the love I’ve felt through food and the people who brought it. This is the essence of the African personality, what our forefather Kwame Nkrumah envisioned: for us to take pride in our culture and heritage,” she said.

The Minister reflected on the importance of cultural experiences in shaping young minds, urging Ghanaians to create positive cultural memories for future generations and cautioned against the loss of identity through cultural neglect, emphasising that African culture should be seen as a foundation for both personal and national development.

The event, which forms part of the Black Star Experience initiative launched by former President John Dramani Mahama, celebrated food as a development tool and an enabler of job creation across multiple sectors including agriculture, tourism, science, and the creative arts.

The Minister praised the participating embassies, including Morocco, Brazil, Mexico, Senegal, Nigeria, Colombia, Barbados, Zimbabwe, China, and Jamaica, for their contributions to the festival.

She also commended local culinary associations such as the Traditional Caterers Association, the Chefs Association of Ghana, as well as musicians and cultural performers who brought the event to life.

Madam Gomashie reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to positioning Ghana as a leader in cultural and culinary tourism. She expressed delight at the success of the maiden edition of the festival and called for continued collaboration to make subsequent editions even bigger and more impactful.

“This sector holds the key to the true development of our country. Let’s continue sharing the story so that next year we can have a bigger and better one,” she added.

The ceremony concluded with music, dance, and food showcases, and certificates were given to participating Embassies.