List of festivals in Ghana

{{Short description|Types of festivals in Ghana}}

Festivals in Ghana are celebrated for many reasons pertaining to a particular tribe or culture, usually having backgrounds relating to an occurrence in the history of that culture. Examples of such occurrences have been hunger, migration, purification of either gods or stools, etc.

Reasons for celebrating festivals

The importance of each festival's celebration includes:

  • Planning developmental project. The festival is used as an occasions to meet and plan developmental projects in the area since most citizens are likely to attend.
  • Purification of gods. The period is used to clean ancestral stools and perform important rites.
  • Thanksgiving. The festival is used to thank the supreme God and the lesser gods for the guidance and protection
  • National and political significance. Prominent people in the government are invited to explain government policies and programmes.
  • Dispute resolution. The occasion is used to settle family and individual disputes for peaceful co-existence.
  • To promote tourism. Some festivals celebrated in Ghana attract many foreign tourists to the country. An example is the Aboakyir festival. Tourism is the third foreign-exchange earner for Ghana.

List of traditional festivals and their month of celebration

class="wikitable sortable"
Festival in Ghana

! Ethnic group that celebrates

Bakatue{{Cite web|url=https://www.ghanawebsolutions.com/serve.php?id=543&d=Bakatue-Festival|title=Bakatue Festival , 2019 - GWS Online GH|website=www.ghanawebsolutions.com|access-date=2019-01-26}}Elmina (Fante)
Homowo{{Cite web|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/tribes/homowo_festival.php|title=Homowo Festival|website=www.ghanaweb.com|access-date=2019-01-26}}{{cite web |last1=Donkor |first1=Nana Adjoa |title=7 Reasons to Experience the Homowo Festival in Ghana |url=https://yochale.com/homowo-festival-in-ghana |website=Yo Chale |access-date=10 February 2025}}Ga
Aboakyer{{Cite web|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/tourism/aboakyer.php|title=Aboakyer Festival|website=www.ghanaweb.com|access-date=2019-01-26}}Efutu (Winneba)
Kundum{{Cite web|url=http://www.travel-to-discover-ghana.com/kundum-festival.html|title=Kundum Festival|website=www.travel-to-discover-ghana.com|access-date=2019-01-26}}Nzema{{Cite web|url=http://www.ghanaculture.gov.gh/index1.php?linkid=65&archiveid=1727&page=1|title=National Commission On Culture|website=www.ghanaculture.gov.gh|access-date=2019-01-27}}
Foo (Fao)Navrongo{{cn|date=April 2019}}
Kpini Chugu (Guinea fowl Festival)Dagombas, Mamprusis, Nanumbas, Kokombas and Basaris{{Cite web|url=https://www.ghanagrio.com/tourism/The-Northern-Region.php|title=The Northern Region of Ghana - ghanagrio.com - ghanagrio.com|website=www.ghanagrio.com|language=en|access-date=2019-10-02}}
Ohum{{Cite web|url=https://www.modernghana.com/news/414230/ohum-starts.html|title=OHUM STARTS|date=2012-08-28|website=Modern Ghana|access-date=2019-01-27}}Akim,{{Cite web|url=https://rediscoveringafricaheritage.wordpress.com/2017/11/22/akyem-people-of-ghana/|title=Akyem People of Ghana.|date=2017-11-22|website=Africani Sankofa|access-date=2019-01-27}} Akuapem{{Cite web|title=Choirmaster for Awukugua Ohum|url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/entertainment/showbiz-news/choirmaster-for-awukugua-ohum.html|access-date=2021-06-23|website=Graphic Online|language=en-gb}}
Hogbetsotso{{Cite web|url=http://www.travel-to-discover-ghana.com/hogbetsotso-festival.html|title=Hogbetsotso Festival|website=www.travel-to-discover-ghana.com|access-date=2019-01-26}}Anlo{{Cite web|url=https://thisisafrica.me/lifestyle/anlo-ewe-people-ghana/|title=The Anlo-Ewe people of Ghana|date=2017-07-10|website=This Is Africa Lifestyle|access-date=2019-01-27}}
NgmayemKrobo{{Cite web|url=http://www.ohioswallow.com/book/The+Krobo+People+of+Ghana+to+1892|title=The Krobo People of Ghana to 1892: A Political and Social History|website=Ohio University Press • Swallow Press|access-date=2019-01-27}}
Volo (Me/Lomo)Volos
Yam{{Cite web|url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/news/2017/september-6th/asogli-promises-another-exciting-yam-festival-this-year.php|title=Asogli promises another exciting yam festival this year|date=2017-09-06|website=www.myjoyonline.com|access-date=2019-01-26}}Ho{{Cite web|url=http://www.ghanadistricts.com/Home/District/177|title=Ghana Districts: A repository of all Local Assemblies in Ghana|website=www.ghanadistricts.com|access-date=2019-01-27}}
Buɣum Chuɣu (Fire Festival){{Cite web|url=http://ghanakey.com/ghana-festivals.html|title=Ghana Festivals|website=ghanakey.com|access-date=2020-01-21}}{{Cite web|url=https://safarijunkie.com/culture/bugum-chugu-fire-festival-in-northern-ghana/|title=Buɣum Chuɣu Fire Festival in Northern Ghana|last=Cof|first=Katja|date=2016-03-05|website=Safari Junkie|access-date=2019-01-26}}al)

|Dagomba{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Dagomba-kingdom|title=Dagomba kingdom {{!}} historical kingdom, Africa|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|access-date=2019-01-27}} Dagbon, Gonja, Mamprusi and Nanumba

Beng

|Gonja{{Cite web|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/features/A-Brief-History-of-Northern-Ghana-Focus-on-Gonja-249345|title=A Brief History of Northern Ghana - Focus on Gonja|website=www.ghanaweb.com|date=30 November 2001 |access-date=2019-01-27}}

Lukusi

|Ve (Near Hohoe)

Danyiba

|Kpando{{Cite web|url=http://kpma.gov.gh/|title=Kpando Municipal Assembly – Official Website of Kpando Municipal Assembly|access-date=2019-01-27}}

Fetu Afahye{{Cite web|url=https://afrotourism.com/travelogue/oguaa-fetu-afahye-festival-cape-coast-purifying-the-new-year/|title=Oguaa Fetu Afahye Festival, Cape Coast|date=2017-03-10|website=Afro Tourism|access-date=2019-01-26}}

|Oguaa{{Cite web|url=https://afrotourism.com/travelogue/oguaa-fetu-afahye-festival-cape-coast-purifying-the-new-year/|title=Oguaa Fetu Afahye Festival, Cape Coast|date=2017-03-10|website=Afro Tourism|access-date=2019-01-27}} (Cape Coast)

Adae Kese

|Ashanti{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Asante|title=Asante {{!}} people|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|access-date=2019-01-27}} Etc.

Adae{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Adae|title=Adae {{!}} Akan festival|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|access-date=2019-01-27}}

|Asante,Akim, Akwamu{{Cite web|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/tribes/akwamu.php|title=Ghana Ethnic Groups, Akwamu|website=www.ghanaweb.com|access-date=2019-01-27}}

Asafotufiam{{Cite web|url=https://asafotufiami.wordpress.com/about/|title=About|date=2010-12-13|website=Ada Asafotufiami Festival|access-date=2019-01-26}}

|Ada{{Cite web|url=https://kwekudee-tripdownmemorylane.blogspot.com/2013/09/ada-people-traditionalist-dangme-people.html|title=ADA PEOPLE: THE TRADITIONALIST DANGME PEOPLE AND THEIR UNIQUE ASAFOTUFIAMI FESTIVAL|website=ADA PEOPLE|access-date=2019-01-27}}

Dzawuwu Festival{{Cite web|url=http://touringghana.com/festivals/|title=Festivals in Ghana|last=Editor|date=2016-02-24|website=touringghana.com|access-date=2019-01-26}}

|Agave{{Cite web|url=https://sites.google.com/site/ghanaplacenames/database/volta/agave|title=Agave Afedome - GhanaPlaceNames|website=sites.google.com|access-date=2019-01-27}}

Fiok{{Cite web|url=http://www2.gsu.edu/~finjws/emmat4.htm|title=FESTIVALS OF GHANA|website=www2.gsu.edu|access-date=2019-01-26}}

|Builsa

Apafram{{Cite web|url=http://www.ghana.travel/events-festivals/festivals/|title=Festivals|last=Dzaho|first=Jerome|website=Ghana Tourism Authority|access-date=2019-01-26}}

|Akwamu{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Akwamu|title=Akwamu {{!}} historical state, Africa|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|access-date=2019-01-27}}

Osudoku Festival{{Cite web|url=https://www.modernghana.com/news/874240/osudoku-aadegbor-festival-launched.html|title=Osudoku Aadegbor Festival Launched|date=2018-08-07|website=Modern Ghana|access-date=2019-01-26}}

|Asutsuare{{Cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Shai-Osudoku-District-Map-where-Asutuare-Area-Council-lies-Source-Shai-Osudoku_fig1_305415749|title=Figure 1: Shai Osudoku District Map (where Asutuare Area Council lies)....|website=ResearchGate|access-date=2019-01-27}}

Afenorto Festival

|Mepe{{Cite web|url=http://mepe.objectis.net/|title=Mepe Community Site|website=mepe.objectis.net|access-date=2019-01-27}}

Papa Festival{{Cite web|url=https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Papa+Festival|title=Papa Festival|website=TheFreeDictionary.com|access-date=2019-01-26}}

|Kumawu{{Cite web|url=http://www.ghanaculture.gov.gh/index1.php?linkid=65&archiveid=2036&page=1|title=National Commission On Culture|website=www.ghanaculture.gov.gh|access-date=2019-01-27}}

Opemso Festival{{cn|date=June 2020}}

|Kokofu-Anyinam

Ɔvazu Festival{{cn|date=April 2021}}

|Akposo

Damba festival

|Dagomba people, Gonja, Mamprusi

Apoo festival

|Techiman, Wenchi{{Cite web |title=Visit Ghana - Apoo Festival |url=https://visitghana.com/attractions/apoo-festival-1/#:~:text=Apoo%20festival%20is%20a%20festival,into%20the%20month%20of%20April. |access-date=2024-11-29 |website=Visit Ghana |language=en-US}}

Eddie Festival

|Wasa people

Below is a list of all traditional, religious commemorative festivals celebrated throughout the year in Ghana.{{cite web|title=Festivals|url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/tourism/festivals.php|publisher=GhanaWeb|access-date=23 October 2014}} These may not entirely consist of festivals of Ghanaian descent.

Commemorating farming season

  • Kakube festival{{cite web|title=Festivals in Ghana|url=http://www.dearghana.com/festivals/|publisher=Dear Ghana|access-date=23 October 2014}}
  • Kobine Festival

Commemorating migration

  • Akwantukese Festival
  • Hogbetsotso festival
  • Keta-Some Tutuza
  • Suma Akwantukese{{Cite web |last=GNA |date=2016-02-02 |title=Suma-Ahenkro launches Akwantukese |url=https://www.modernghana.com/amp/news/672360/suma-ahenkro-launches-akwantukese.html |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=Modern Ghana |language=en}}

Religious

Others

Oti Region)]]

  • Ɔvazu Festival (Akposokubi) Oti Region, formally Volta/Trans-Volta Togoland

References

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Festivals