Ghana, a hub for global events - The Music Perspective

Music concerts and related events have seen tremendous growth recently, with Accra gradually emerging as one of the biggest and trendiest hubs for Africa's creative business. This has encouraged the majority of Ghanaians who love events to return to our vibrant cultural scene. To put it mildly, the profits from it, particularly in the final quarter of the year, are satisfying.

According to the Ghana Tourism Authority, the Year of Return campaign has so far exceeded expectations, showcasing Ghana as the official vacation destination and placing it on the map worldwide, drawing visitors from a variety of backgrounds, including many Hollywood stars.

December in Ghana has become more than just a tourism promotion for the nation; it's a rallying cry for the African diaspora to re-engage with our arts and culture.

Worldwide events like the Global Citizen concert, Afrofuture, and Afronation, along with potentially game-changing events like the Roverman plays, Wildaland, Rapperholic, Akwaaba Parties, Polo Beach Club, Taste of Ghana, Little Havana, Around the World, Rythmz on the Runway, Shatten Concert, Samini Experience, Stonebwoy's concerts, Western Carnivals, Nite of Laughs, Explosion of Joy, and so on, have found their groove in Accra, generating substantial profits and promoting Ghana as a destination for events.

Our Music

Although today’s new wave of Afrobeats has been strongly dominated by our West African brothers, Nigeria -- where in the 1970s it originated and became popular through music icon Fela Kuti, neighbouring Ghana has been steadily emerging in the sapce.

Today, you cannot visit any Ghanaian night club or pub without experiencing Ghana’s beautiful authentic music created by our musicians. Our music has transcended the boarders of Ghana in recent times.

I recall a visit to Kingston, Jamaica in 2023, where Ghana’s KiDi’s music, Touch It was being played in a Jamaican pub and some guests singing the choruses and dancing to the rhythm. Indeed, our music has been placed on a huge international market beyond the Motherland’s borders.

 A Favourable economy

As Ghana focuses on building a more sustainable economy, it has become important for the country to continually attract new foreign investments. Ghana has consistently attracted considerable investment from overseas and has maintained a good history of trade with the rest of the world.

The Ghanaian Government maintains the goal of creating a business environment that would attract more foreign private capital.

Over the years, the country has taken steps to diversify the economy, increase trade across borders and improve the ease of doing business within its boundaries. In the latest Doing Business Report conducted and issued by the World Bank, Ghana placed 118th out of 190 economies surveyed. This was a drop from the 114th spot in 2019.

Our ICT and Telecommunication Infrastructure

As a key component in amplifying global events, Ghana’s telecommunications and ICT sector has gone through significant phases of growth over the last two decades, with a mobile voice penetration rate of 136.68% with over 40 million subscribers and a mobile data penetration rate of 80.33% with 23 million subscribers and counting.

The major players in the telecommunications sector are MTN, Vodafone (now Telecel) and the recently merged AirtelTigo (AT). MTN commands a large share of the market.

ICT has been a vital component of the economic growth of Ghana in the last decades. The country has a stable environment for innovation and the development of ICT, with oversight from the Ministry of Communication, responsible for facilitating the development of a reliable and cost-effective world-class communications infrastructure and services, and the National Communications Authority (NCA), which are primarily regulators of the communications industry.

The country’s ICT Industry comprises telecommunications operators, internet service providers, Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) data operators, software manufacturers, broadcast institutions, ICT education providers, and internet cafés among others. The infrastructural base of the sector includes licensed gateway operators, undersea cable connectivity, private licensed VSAT systems, fixed wired line networks, wireless mobile operators, public telephones systems, telecentres, dedicated transmission networks, public distribution networks (cable, TV, DSL, etc.), internet backbone connectivity throughout the country and public access point and broadcasting systems.

Our Security System

Ghana is relatively safe country in a region with growing safety and security concerns.

Ghana’s ranking on the Global Peace Index for 2022 is 40 out of 163 countries covered. This represents a small decrease from its previous rank of 38 in 2021. In 2022, having witnessed its immediate neighbouring countries suffer from terrorist attacks, Ghana launched a campaign titled “If you see something, say something” to increase public awareness and ask for citizens’ support to help address the threat posed by extremist groups.

These groups frequently take advantage of unemployment rates and poverty to enlist new members. Along with its neighbors, Ghana has initiated the "Accra Initiative," a cooperative security mechanism involving seven West African nations that confront growing threats and attacks from Islamist terrorists along their northern borders with Niger and Burkina Faso. Compared to other nearby countries in Africa, hosting an international event in Ghana is safer due to these and numerous more variables.

Event Logistics providers

In a significant stride towards transforming the landscape of event hosting in Ghana, many private and public event venues have emerged as Ghana’s best event centers. From the Black Star Square to the Emporium, the Grand Arena to the Untamed Empire, Chez Afrik, Alliance Francaise, etc.

The umbrella body for event organisers and logistics providers in Ghana, the Events and Meetings Professionals Association of Ghana (EMPAG), has been positioned to ensure delivering world class support services to global events in Ghana.

Nothing is lacking in Ghana when it comes to staging, lighting, set designs, trusses, LED screens, and stage fog/smoke machines. EMPAG's mandate is to standardize industry practices and advocate for policies that will support the growth and sustainability of the events industry.

 Members of EMPAG represent corporate events, entertainment, experiential marketing, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), logistics for events, audiovisual production, and event support services. Members specialize in planning, supplying logistics, and other support services for social/private, corporate, and large-scale events.

Indeed, a trip to Ghana, particularly in December, ensures that you will experience the best that the nation has to offer: breathtaking beaches, wonderful weather, and a vibrant, inclusive culture. Where else in Africa would you like to power your international event? Ghana to Akwaaba.

The President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. NANA ADDO DANKWA AKUFO-ADDO, said, "To all of you visiting our shores for the first time, I say Akwaaba!, our word of welcome to you," as I wrap up. You live in a people who take great pride in their ability to welcome guests. Have fun while visiting our stunning nation.