The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, has officially opened the 2026 edition of the “Back to Your Village” Food Festival at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park, marking a vibrant celebration of Ghanaian culture, cuisine, and heritage.
The festival, powered by Channel One TV and Citi FM, brought together patrons from across the country to experience a rich display of traditional food exhibitions, live drumming, indigenous music, and energetic dance performances.
Participants explored a variety of themed villages, including the Southern Village, Akan Village, Northern Village, Drink Village, and Grill Village, each highlighting authentic Ghanaian dishes and cultural traditions. Since its inception in 2020, the festival has steadily grown into a major platform for promoting locally made foods and showcasing Ghana’s culinary identity on the global stage.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Hon. Arthur emphasized the deeper significance of the festival. “This festival is more than a celebration of food; it is a celebration of identity, culture, dignity, and sustainability,” she stated.
She further stressed the need for the initiative to move beyond nostalgia and serve as a strategic platform to promote local food production and consumption, support smallholder farmers and artisanal producers, and preserve traditional food knowledge and practices.
Highlighting the importance of the fisheries sector, the Minister noted that fish remains a vital source of livelihood and nutrition for millions of Ghanaians, particularly in coastal communities such as Aflao, Jamestown, Elmina, Shama, and Half Assini, as well as along the Lake Volta.
She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to sustainable fishing practices, value addition across the fish value chain, stronger community participation, and increased investment in aquaculture—particularly for youth and women.
Hon. Arthur also assured of continued government support for initiatives that strengthen rural economies, promote local industries, and enhance national food security.
