Ghana had and still has a mood in December, but New Year’s Eve celebrations and the first week of the new year have a completely different vibe. Don’t worry if you missed out; we’ve got you covered. To help you relive the experiences, we’ve listed our top 7 events, gatherings, festivals, and all the in-betweens.
- Freedom parade at the Nkyinkyim Museum
The Nkyinkyim Museum has created an annual African masquerade parade known as the Freedom Parade, which is to celebrate African creativity and freedom, which includes body painting. This amazing festival is a must-attend for every visitor planning a trip to Ghana in December. The museum serves as an archive of African history and heritage and has more spiritual and personalized significance for your experience and reconnection journey to the motherland. It took place from December 9 to December 11, 2022.
2. Taste of Ghana
Taste of Ghana was more of a cookout where a variety of indigenous foods from Ghana were prepared and sold, in addition to everything made in Ghana, including local drinks, clothing, shoes, bags, and accessories. This amazing two-day event took place from December 23, 2022, to December 24, 2022, and the set-up was incredible and picture-perfect for the theme.
3. Afrofuture (Afrochella)
Known now as “Afrofuture,” it is one of the most talked-about landmark events of December in Ghana. Its five-year reign came to an end with the last show taking place on December 28 and 29, 2022, which saw some of the biggest performers such as Stonebwoy, Asake, Ayra Starr, Juls, Rema, Black Sherif, Shatta Wale, Camidoh, Aerostar, and Gyakie, with Burna Boy performing as the headliner. Afrochella will be greatly missed, but we are going to hope that the organizers will come up with an alternative event as soon as they can.
4. Afronations
The largest afro beats festival in the world, #afronations, made its much-anticipated return to Ghana after its debut edition during the #YearofReturn in 2019. On December 29 and 30, it took place on Marine Drive, behind the famous Black Star Square. The festival saw a star-studded lineup that included a special and first-ever West African performance from Meek Mill, P-Square, Skepta, Rema, Stonebwoy, Tiwa Savage, Asake, and CKay, along with DJ and MC appearances from Scorpion Kings and many more.
5. Polo Beach Club’s NYE Party
New Year’s Eve parties are becoming quite popular in Ghana, and at the Polo Beach Club, an Accra-based premiere beach club, the kind of party that happens on the eve of the new year is a must-attend event of the year. The Official New Year’s Eve Party has evolved into a signature event that lasts from sunset to sunrise. If you happen to be in Ghana on New Year’s Eve, counting down to the new year at the Polo Beach Club should be part of your itinerary.
The festival that got Ghana boiling From the build-up to the arrival of the performers and guests to the day of the events, it was an incredible sight. The first week of the new year was louder than the entire December in Ghana. The festival was hosted by Vic Mensa and Chance The Rapper and saw the likes of Dave Chappelle, Erykah Badu, T-Pain, Sarkodie, Tobie Nwigwe, Asakaa Boys Manifest, and Stonebwoy. It’s just a one-day event, but the organizers hope to host it as an annual concert that will travel worldwide. So watch out for it if you are in Ghana during the first week of the new year.
7. The Masquerade Carnival (aka Ankos Parade)
Tadi Fest is an annual event that doubles as one of the oldest Christmas traditions of the people of the Western region of Ghana. To truly understand the essence of this festival, one must be present for such inexplicable experiences. The streets of Sekondi come alive with different colors of beautifully designed “ankos”, a name given to the custom that each masquerade group wears. On the afternoon of December 25th, each ankos group gathers at a point and dances across the Sekondi Takoradi township just like the carnivals of the Carribeains. Each akos group is identified by its distinct group custom. You can take a day trip by flying 45 minutes in and 45 minutes out, but for road trip lovers, it’s 4 hours plus traffic on the road from Accra to witness this colorful historical festival.