The Black Star Festival, an initiative celebrating African culture, creativity, and heritage, has officially been launched with a strong call to preserve and promote Ghana’s rich cultural identity.
Held at the Accra Tourist Information Centre (ATIC) on Tuesday, June 17, the launch event brought together prominent figures from Ghana’s arts and culture sectors, including the Executive Director of the National Commission on Culture (NCC), Mr. Wakefield Ackuaku.
This new cultural celebration aligns with the recently introduced Black Star Experience by President John Mahama—a visionary programme designed to position Ghana as Africa’s leading cultural and creative hub. The initiative includes year-round activities such as festivals, art exhibitions, fashion shows, musical performances, culinary events, film screenings, and heritage preservation efforts.
Speaking at the launch, Mr. Ackuaku described the Black Star Experience as a continuation of landmark initiatives like the Year of Return and Beyond the Return. He said:
“The Black Star Experience builds on the foundation laid by these earlier efforts, taking Ghana’s cultural identity to the next level. The NCC’s core mandate is to preserve and promote Ghanaian culture, and this new initiative is a strategic step toward achieving that goal. The Black Star Festival is one of the key projects under this broader agenda.”
Organized by GD Visionary Group Ltd in partnership with the NCC, the Black Star Festival aims to celebrate African excellence through a vibrant mix of music, art, fashion, film, and business networking. The three-day international edition is scheduled for September 26–28 in Washington, D.C., USA, with a corresponding Ghana edition planned for October.
Planned activities for the U.S. edition include street carnivals, film screenings, fashion shows, culinary expos, theatrical productions, and a grand gala night.
Mr. Joseph Marteye, President of GD Visionary Group, emphasized the festival’s mission to engage the global African diaspora, especially Ghanaians who have never visited their homeland:
“This isn’t just a festival—it’s a movement. The Black Star Festival will run throughout the year with events that elevate Ghana’s global image and establish it as a premier cultural and tourism destination.”
Board Chairman of GD Visionary Group Ltd, Mr. Humphrey Quaye, also expressed confidence that the festival would attract large numbers of African diasporans to Ghana—not only for cultural exploration but also to pursue business and investment opportunities.
The festival will also spotlight visual art rooted in Ghanaian heritage, featuring renowned artists such as Ibrahim Mahama, Kwame Akoto-Bamfo, Betty Acquah, Samuel Lovi, and Serge Attukwei Clottey at the U.S. event in September.