Traditional festival · Ahafo
Addae Tuntum
Kukuom remembers the Ebirimoro war with the Sefwi, and renews its loyalty to its chief.
- WhenUsually January, sometimes December
- WhereKukuom
- Kept byThe chiefs and people of Kukuom
Festivals and cultural events in Ghana A growing list of 46 traditional festivals and cultural events across all 16 of Ghana’s regions, January to December. For each one: where it happens, when it usually falls, who keeps it and what to expect.
To do this year
- watch the deer hunt at Winneba
- eat kpokpoi at Homowo
- see the umbrellas at Fetu Afahye
- Fiok at Sandema in December
Most festivals are kept by a town and its chiefs, who set the date close to the day.
46 festivals and
cultural events listed
A growing list, not a complete one: most towns and traditional areas keep a festival of their own. Know one we haven’t listed? Tell us about it.
January 5 listed
Traditional festival · Central
Edina Bronya
Elmina’s own “Christmas”, born of its Dutch years, with rites at the Benya Lagoon and chiefs in palanquins.
Bronya is the local word for Christmas; families come home for it.
- WhenUsually the first Thursday of January
- WhereElmina
- Kept byThe Edina (Elmina) Traditional Area
Traditional festival · Upper East
Fao
Navrongo’s thanksgiving at the end of the farming season, with a durbar, drumming and war dances.
- WhenAround the turn of the year, usually December or January
- WhereNavrongo
- Kept byThe Kassena-Nankana of Navrongo
Traditional festival · Upper West
Paragbiele
Tumu’s harvest thanksgiving, with farm produce on show, a durbar of chiefs, drumming and dance.
- WhenLate January into February
- WhereTumu
- Kept byThe chiefs and people of Tumu
Cultural event · Central
Winneba Masquerade
Five masquerade clubs in masks and costumes march and dance for the prize on New Year’s Day.
- When1 January
- WhereWinneba
- Kept byThe Winneba Masquerade Federation and its five clubs
February 2 listed
Traditional festival · Oti
Fussikur
Bowiri remembers its journey from Moree: a week of rites, a climb to the old settlement and a grand durbar.
- WhenBetween February and March
- WhereBowiri Amanforo
- Kept byThe chiefs and people of Bowiri
Traditional festival · Volta
Nyigbla
A week of thanksgiving at Afife that remembers the Anlo-Ewe migration, ending in war dances and bonfires.
- WhenUsually the third weekend of February
- WhereAfife, near Akatsi
- Kept byThe chiefs and people of Afife
March 2 listed
Traditional festival · Bono East
Apoo
A week when people may sing out their grievances against chiefs and leaders, to cleanse the town.
- WhenUsually March or April; dates vary
- WhereTechiman and Wenchi
- Kept byThe Bono of Techiman and Wenchi
Traditional festival · Greater Accra
Kpledjoo
Tema’s festival at the Sakumo lagoon: two days of rites, processions and prayers for fish and food.
- WhenUsually late March or early April
- WhereTema
- Kept byThe Ga of Tema
April 3 listed
Traditional festival · Oti
Hyirebo
A week of peace that closes the Bowiri year: river bathing at dawn, white clay and a durbar.
- WhenThe first week of April
- WhereBowiri Amanforo
- Kept byThe chiefs and people of Bowiri Amanforo
Traditional festival · Savannah
Jintigi
The Gonja fire festival: torches carried at night to the edge of town, and readings for the year ahead.
- WhenUsually April
- WhereDamongo and the Gonja towns
- Kept byThe chiefs and people of Gonja
Cultural event · Eastern
Kwahu Easter
Ghana’s biggest homecoming: Easter on the Kwahu ridge, with paragliding off the Odweanoma mountain.
- WhenEaster weekend (March or April)
- WhereKwahu ridge: Atibie, Mpraeso, Abetifi
- Kept byKwahu towns, with the Ghana Tourism Authority
May 1 listed
Traditional festival · Central
Aboakyer
Two Asafo companies race to catch a live bushbuck with sticks and bare hands, an offering to the god Penkye Otu.
- WhenUsually the first weekend of May
- WhereWinneba
- Kept byThe Effutu of Winneba
June 2 listed
Traditional festival · Northern
Bugum
The Dagomba new-year fire festival: torches carried through the streets and out of town at night.
- WhenThe ninth day of Bugum Goli, the first lunar month (about late June in 2026)
- WhereYendi, Tamale and Dagbon
- Kept byThe Dagomba
Traditional festival · Eastern
Ohum
Akyem thanksgiving for the yam harvest and the Birim river, held twice a year after two weeks of silence.
- WhenA Tuesday or Wednesday in June or July, and again in September or October
- WhereKyebi and the Akyem towns
- Kept byThe Akyem Abuakwa
July 3 listed
Traditional festival · Greater Accra
Asafotufiam
Ada’s warriors’ festival: Asafo companies re-enact old battles, with musketry and a durbar of chiefs in palanquins.
- WhenLate July or early August, with the durbar on a Saturday
- WhereAda
- Kept byThe Dangme of Ada
Traditional festival · Central
Bakatue
Elmina opens the Benya lagoon: the chief casts a net three times, then come the regatta and a durbar at the castle.
- WhenThe first Tuesday of July, with a durbar that Saturday
- WhereElmina
- Kept byThe Edina (Elmina) Traditional Area
Traditional festival · Western
Kundum
The harvest festival of the Ahanta and Nzema, moving from town to town along the western coast.
- WhenJuly to November, one town after another
- WhereThe coast from Sekondi to Axim
- Kept byThe Ahanta and Nzema
August 7 listed
Traditional festival · Volta
Agbamevoza
The Kente festival of Agotime: weaving contests and chiefs in their finest cloth.
- WhenUsually late August or early September, over a week
- WhereAgotime-Kpetoe
- Kept byThe Agotime
Cultural event · Greater Accra
Chale Wote
Accra’s street art festival: murals, performance, music and film in the streets of James Town and beyond.
- WhenUsually August, over about a week
- WhereJames Town and Osu, Accra
- Kept byAccra [dot] Alt
Traditional festival · Northern
Damba
Drumming, smocks and chiefs on horseback, in the month that marks the Prophet’s birth.
- WhenThe month of Damba, the third lunar month (about late August in 2026)
- WhereYendi, Tamale and the north
- Kept byDagbon, Mamprugu, Gonja and Wa
Traditional festival · North East
Damba in Nalerigu
Mamprugu’s great gathering: chiefs from across the kingdom, dances through the night and the Nayiri at sunrise.
- WhenThe lunar month of Damba (about late August in 2026); the Mamprusi calendar sets the day
- WhereThe Nayiri’s palace, Nalerigu
- Kept byMamprugu, led by the Nayiri
Traditional festival · Oti
Gidifon
The Adele new yam festival: offerings of mashed yam on the mountain, then yam fufu and dancing at home.
- WhenAugust to September
- WhereThe Adele towns around Tutukpene
- Kept byThe Adele, with their chief priests
Traditional festival · Greater Accra
Homowo
“Hooting at hunger”: kpokpoi is shared and sprinkled for the ancestors.
- WhenAugust into September, each Ga town in turn
- WhereAccra and the Ga coast
- Kept byThe Ga
Traditional festival · Ashanti
Yaa Asantewaa Festival
Ejisu honours Nana Yaa Asantewaa, the queen mother who led the 1900 war against the British.
- WhenUsually early August
- WhereEjisu
- Kept byThe Ejisu Traditional Area
September 7 listed
Traditional festival · Ahafo
Adikanfo
Hwidiem remembers its migration from Denkyira Ntomu, with a durbar of chiefs, drumming and dancing.
- WhenUsually September
- WhereHwidiem
- Kept byThe chiefs and people of Hwidiem
Traditional festival · Volta
Asogli Te Za
The yam festival of the Asogli State at Ho, honouring the hunter said to have found the first yam.
- WhenSeptember
- WhereHo
- Kept byThe Asogli State
Traditional festival · Central
Fetu Afahye
Cape Coast’s week of cleansing and thanksgiving, with Asafo companies, state umbrellas and a grand procession.
- WhenThe first week of September, peaking on the first Saturday
- WhereCape Coast
- Kept byThe Oguaa Traditional Area
Traditional festival · Oti
Gyogyi
The Akyode yam festival: the stool blesses the new yam, chiefs swear to the chief priest, and the night is for dancing.
- WhenUsually September (the season runs August to November)
- WhereThe Akyode towns around Keri and Nkwanta
- Kept byThe Akyode, with the chief priest of the Brukum stool
Traditional festival · Upper West
Kobine
Lawra’s harvest festival, famous for its dance competition to kuor drums and ankle bells.
- WhenSeptember or October, over four days
- WhereLawra
- Kept byThe Dagaaba of Lawra
Traditional festival · Oti
Krachi Yam Festival
Krachi and its yam-growing neighbours give thanks for the harvest, with masquerades and yam pounded in the open.
- WhenSeptember
- WhereKete Krachi
- Kept byThe Krachi, led by the Krachiwura
Traditional festival · Eastern
Odwira
Akuapem’s week of purification and the new yam, remembering the 1826 victory at Katamanso.
- WhenSeptember or October, over a week
- WhereAkropong, Aburi, Larteh and Mamfe
- Kept byThe Akuapem
October 7 listed
Traditional festival · Oti
Buem Lilu
The Buem yam festival: three weeks of rites in the towns, then a grand durbar at Bodada.
- WhenUsually the second week of October; the Buem Traditional Council sets the date
- WhereBodada and the Buem towns
- Kept byThe Buem people, led by the Omanhene at Bodada
Traditional festival · Western North
Eluo
The Sefwi yam festival: a week of events that ends with a grand durbar of chiefs at Sefwi Wiawso.
- WhenSet each year by the Wiawso Traditional Council; October to mid-November in 2023
- WhereSefwi Wiawso
- Kept byThe chiefs and people of Sefwi Wiawso
Traditional festival · Bono East
Fofie
A yam festival of thanks for the harvest, ending in a durbar of chiefs carried through the streets.
- WhenOctober
- WhereTechiman, and Nchiraa near Wenchi
- Kept byThe Bono of Techiman
Traditional festival · Oti
Frikooso Afahye
Tapa remembers the battle at Frikooso hill, where its people and their allies turned back an Asante army.
- WhenOctober
- WhereTapa Abotoase and the Tapa towns
- Kept byThe chiefs and people of the Tapa Traditional Area
Traditional festival · Volta
Godigbeza
Aflao’s festival of liberation, remembering the escape from King Agorkoli’s rule at Notsie, with a grand durbar.
- WhenOctober or November
- WhereAflao
- Kept byThe chiefs and people of Aflao
Traditional festival · Eastern
Ngmayem
The Krobo millet festival and new year, with a pilgrimage to Krobo Mountain and a grand durbar.
- WhenThe last week of October (25 Oct–2 Nov in 2026)
- WhereOdumase-Krobo
- Kept byThe Manya Krobo
Traditional festival · Volta
Sasadu
Four Volta towns of one origin renew their old friendship, taking turns to host a grand durbar.
- WhenOctober, hosted by each town in turn
- WhereAlavanyo, Akrofu, Saviefe and Sovie
- Kept byThe four Sasadu communities
November 4 listed
Traditional festival · Ahafo
Adekyem
Bechem’s festival every two years: its history and culture on show, and funds raised for education and development.
- WhenEvery two years, usually November or December
- WhereBechem
- Kept byThe chiefs and people of the Bechem Traditional Area
Traditional festival · Eastern
Akwantukese
New Juaben remembers its great migration from Juaben in Ashanti, with a procession and durbar in Koforidua.
- WhenNovember or December, over a month
- WhereKoforidua
- Kept byNew Juaben
Traditional festival · Volta
Hogbetsotso
The Anlo remember their escape from King Agorkoli at Notsie, walking backwards to hide their tracks.
- WhenUsually the first Saturday of November
- WhereAnloga
- Kept byThe Anlo
Traditional festival · Oti
Ovazu
The Akposo thanksgiving for the fonio harvest, to God and the seven principal Akposo gods.
- WhenAt the fonio harvest, October to December
- WhereThe Akposo towns, Biakoye District
- Kept byThe Akposo
December 2 listed
Traditional festival · Upper East
Fiok
The Builsa remember their victory over the slave raider Babatu, with warriors in horned headdresses.
- WhenDecember (21 December in 2024)
- WhereSandema
- Kept byThe Builsa
Traditional festival · Bono
Kwafie
A festival of fire and of putting the town in order, ending in a grand durbar at Dormaa Ahenkro.
- WhenNovember or December
- WhereDormaa Ahenkro, Berekum and Nsoatre
- Kept byThe Bono of Dormaa and their neighbours
Through the year every six weeks
Traditional festival · Ashanti
Akwasidae
The Asantehene sits in state at Manhyia and receives chiefs and visitors, every six weeks.
- WhenEvery six weeks, on a Sunday
- WhereManhyia Palace, Kumasi
- Kept byThe Asantehene and the Asante
Know a festival we haven’t listed?
Tell us its name, the town, roughly when it falls and who keeps it. A link to a news report or a photo you took helps.
We check every suggestion against published sources before we add it, so it may take a little while to appear.
Suggest a festivalPhotos from Wikimedia Commons: Winneba Masquerade by Joy Agyepong (CC BY-SA 4.0), Kwahu Easter by Alhassan Sumaila (CC BY-SA 4.0), Aboakyer by Fquasie (CC BY-SA 4.0), Bugum by Shahadusadik (CC BY-SA 4.0), Ohum by Robertjamal12 (CC BY-SA 4.0), Bakatue by US Embassy in Ghana / USAID (public domain), Kundum by Assilidjoe (CC BY-SA 4.0), Agbamevoza by JY midey (CC BY-SA 4.0), Chale Wote by Fquasie (CC BY-SA 4.0), Damba by Bash222 (CC BY-SA 4.0), Damba in Nalerigu by Shahadusadik (CC BY-SA 4.0), Homowo by Agbleyjill (CC BY-SA 4.0), Fetu Afahye by Bright Kwame Ayisi (CC BY-SA 4.0), Odwira by Duncanoff (CC BY-SA 4.0), Ngmayem by Fquasie (CC BY-SA 4.0), Hogbetsotso by JY midey (CC BY-SA 4.0), Fiok by Christian Yakubu (CC BY-SA 4.0), Akwasidae by Paul5263 (CC BY-SA 4.0). Full credits on the photo credits page.