Patrons at the 2026 ‘Back to Your Village Food Festival’ have been showering praise on organisers Channel One TV and Citi FM, describing the event as a refreshing and immersive celebration of Ghanaian culture.
Held at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park, the two-day festival—running through Sunday, March 29—has drawn enthusiastic crowds eager to reconnect with Ghanaian tradition through food, music, and shared experiences.
Far from a typical food fair, the festival has been curated as a full cultural showcase, featuring local delicacies such as banku with okro stew, fufu with light soup, aprapransa with crabs, tuo zaafi, and angwamo served with eggs, pepper, beef, or sardines.
In interviews with Citinewsroom.com, attendees expressed excitement about both the variety of food and the lively atmosphere.
“So far so good,” said Samuel Awuku, summing up the sentiment of many patrons.
First-time visitor Shamira Seidu said the experience exceeded expectations. “I’m impressed. The place is spacious, and the fufu I had was delicious. I will be back on Sunday. I really applaud Citi FM/Channel One for this initiative,” she added.
Mike Owusu Asare highlighted the event’s accessibility and diversity. “It’s been amazing. I can navigate around with my mobility scooter from the car park to all the corners. There’s such a variety of food. It’s a wonderful experience,” he noted, encouraging organisers to expand the initiative.
Others welcomed the change of venue. “It’s a better venue than the AMA, so it’s good,” Kwabena Ayisi commented.
For Ama Dontoh, the entertainment added an extra layer of excitement. “I’m having fun. The cultural troupe is making it more exciting. I like the food—akrakro, abele walls. They should do it twice every year,” she suggested.
Beyond the culinary delights, many patrons praised the festival as an opportunity to reconnect with Ghanaian roots. Speaker Addo described it as a cultural bridge, especially for urban residents.
“It’s good, there are a lot of foods people haven’t had for a very long time. People have been away from their roots for a very long time, and it’s an opportunity for them to reconnect. The Ghanaians who were born in Accra have never tasted the originality of Ghanaian foods.
“Forget the pizza and noodles, if you eat ofam, fufu, aprapransa, this is what we’re talking about, and this is Ghana. Kudos to Channel One TV/Citi FM for this initiative,” he said.
A standout feature of the festival is the recreation of a traditional Ghanaian village, where visitors explore different ethnic settings complete with live drumming, traditional music, and vibrant dance performances. Communal dining areas allow patrons to enjoy meals in settings that mirror authentic village life.
Vendors also showcase traditional cookware, including grinding stones and earthenware bowls, evoking nostalgia and highlighting age-old culinary practices.
Organisers say the festival, running daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., also seeks to counter the growing influence of Western diets by promoting local cuisine and cultural identity, particularly among younger generations.
Powered by Channel One TV with support from Citi FM, the festival is sponsored by Ecobank, Gino, Didi Shito, Munchee Biscuits, the National Petroleum Authority, and Everpack.
As crowds continue to stream in, the Back to Your Village Food Festival is fast becoming more than an event—it is a celebration of Ghanaian identity, heritage, and the enduring taste of home.
