Promote Local, Grow Ghana — Tourism Minister at ‘Back to Your Village’ Food Festival

Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has urged Ghanaians to embrace and promote locally made products as a pathway to economic growth and national development.

Speaking on the second day of the Back to Your Village Food Festival on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park, she said strong public support for indigenous businesses could inject new energy into the country’s economic ecosystem.

“The other part of my excitement is that anytime you throw out the invitation, they come, and the vendors as well, their coming means that they want their businesses to be sustained,” she said.

She called on citizens to take pride in Ghanaian products across regions, stressing that unity in promoting local goods could unlock greater opportunities.

“What we have to do as Ghanaians is to believe well in ourselves and what we have to offer. We all have unique things to offer. If we appreciate what is coming from the North, South, middle belts, and the coastal regions, we will reach far,” she added.

The minister said expanding such initiatives nationwide could significantly boost local enterprises.

“Can you imagine we do this across all 16 regions of our country? We are going to pump fresh energy into the ecosystem of businesses that belong to Ghanaians,” she said.

She linked increased patronage of local goods to broader national development, including improved infrastructure and public services.

“The more we patronise it, the more they will be able to explore and make more money. Once they begin to make more money, that means that we can be able to get more taxes into the bracket. What will the taxes do? They improve our roads, our rural electrification continues, and other developments take place,” she said.

She encouraged continuous promotion and consumption of Ghanaian culture, including food, fashion and dance.

“As we promote it, let’s consume it. It is in our fashion, our foods, and dance,” she said.

Madam Gomashie also commended Citi FM and Channel One TV for their role in organising the festival and supporting local industries.

“Look at the earthenware bowls, the fans, and the other things that many of the sellers are using for their foods — all are made in Ghana. Someone is making them, and once they make them, they will want buyers,” she said.

“I want to thank the management of Citi FM and Channel One TV for bridging policy and reality and its implementation. We cannot thank you enough. I hope next year it will be bigger and better,” she added.

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.