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GEXIM commemorates Homowo with “Homowo Mart” on August 27
As part of activities to commemorate this year’s celebration of the Homowo festival, Management of the Ghana Export – Import Bank (GEXIM) has announced a special edition of its popular Tuesday Market. Dubbed “GEXIM Homowo Mart”, it is scheduled to take place on Tuesday August 27, 2024 at the forecourt of the Bank’s headquarters, the Africa Trade House, in Accra.
In the spirit of the celebration, the “GEXIM Homowo Mart” which will commence at 10am and end at 8pm will provide a platform to showcase a variety of top-quality Made-In-Ghana products and services at unbeatable prices.
The very unique, and authentic products to be exhibited at the fair will include food and ingredients, beverages, skin and beauty care products, textiles, apparel, garments, leather footwear, slippers, and many others.
Commenting on the Bank’s rationale and preparation towards the successful organization of the “GEXIM Homowo Mart”, the Deputy Chief Executive of GEXIM, responsible for Banking, Ms. Rosemary Beryl Archer, highlighted the important role cultural sensitivity plays in global trade, bilateral relations between countries as well as building synergies between international businesses and entrepreneurs.
“We are excited to be participating in this year’s edition of the month long harvest festival by the Gas in the Greater Accra region by organizing the special edition of our award winning SME fair, Tuesday Market, which seeks to promote and market products and services by Ghanaian entrepreneurs. I must say, cultural sensitivityis a cornerstone of successful international trade and it is significant to leverage on important festivals like Homowo by the Gas which comes with a lot of lessons. When businesses value and respect cultural differences, they foster trust, enhance communication, and drive sustainable growth in global markets”, she elaborated.
According to Mr. Archer, in addition to the exhibition of Ghanaian made products and services on the day, the forecourt of the Africa Trade House will come alive with a Ga cultural display to provide a captivating insight into the tradition and customs of the Ga people in the presence of some very important dignitaries from the Ga state confirmed to participate in the “GEXIM Homowo Mart”.
The word “Homowo” means hooting at hunger in the Ga language. The Ga people celebrate the “Homowo Festival” in remembrance of famine that once happened in their history in precolonial Ghana. The festival is a time of immense joy, gratitude and reflection for all Gas in the country and around the world.
The Ghana Tourism Development Company, GTDC, under the leadership of Prof.Kobby Mensah has launched GTDC Campus Tourism Office at the University of Ghana.
The initiative aims to promote educational and domestic tourism by providing structured campus tour experiences showcasing key heritage sites, including the Archaeology Museum and the School of Performing Arts.
It will also offer students their first travel experience across the continent and inculcate in them love to visit Ghana’s heritage sites.
Addressing the gathering at the launch yesterday, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, described tourism as a vehicle for education and heritage preservation, stressing that the sector must inspire citizens to value and protect national culture for future generations.
The minister highlighted tourism’s connection to disciplines such as history, the arts, economics and environmental science.
The minister further noted that the private sector is the engine of tourism economy, adding that the engines require fuel, which is talents.” by investing in these young people today, you are securing the quality, the innovation and competitiveness of our own industry for tomorrow.
She added that the establishment of the office represents a deliberate investment in the intellectual capital of the country.
The GTDC boss, Prof.Kobby Mensah, said,”at GTDC, we believe that if our tourism has to be sustainable, we have to promote domestic tourism and a very big part of it is getting students to appreciate tourism and helping them to organise tours.”
He added that the University of Ghana itself is a huge heritage site which must be explored.
Prof.Kobby Mensah noted that the initiative, which is one of many to be established across the country, is a joint partnership between GTDC and University of Ghana.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof.Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, said the University is a custodian of heritage which goes beyond the structures and welcomed the establishment of the first Campus Tourism Office.
She was optimistic that the office would be put to good use to achieve the intended purpose.
The launch brought together Stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to nurturing future tourism and hospitality professionals.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Ghana has officially accepted an invitation to serve as Guest Country at Burkina Faso’s 22nd National Culture Week in Bobo-Dioulasso from April 22 to May 2, 2026.
The invitation was extended by Burkina Faso’s Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism, Gilbert Noël Ouédraogo, accompanied by the Ambassador of Burkina Faso to Ghana, H.E. David Kabré.
Receiving the delegation, Abla Dzifa Gomashie reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to deepening cultural diplomacy and strengthening historic ties between the two nations.
She noted that the festival will create opportunities for young creatives, expand exhibition platforms and promote commercial exchange within the creative sector.
The event will feature cultural performances, a community village and gastronomy fair, an arts market, literary engagements, and a craft and trade fair.
Ghana’s participation is expected to further strengthen bilateral relations between John Dramani Mahama and Ibrahim Traoré, while fostering collaboration within the creative ecosystems of both countries.
