The Executive Director of EMY Africa, Kojo Soboh, has paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, as part of efforts to deepen collaboration between the government and the private sector in promoting Ghanaian culture on the international stage.
During the meeting, Mr. Soboh shared EMY Africa’s upcoming slate of high-profile events aimed at celebrating African excellence and promoting cultural exchange.
Key among them is the Africa Rising Symposium, slated as the opening ceremony for their broader event calendar, which will take place in South Africa in September, Nigeria in October, and culminate in the main EMY Africa Awards in November.
According to Mr. Soboh, EMY Africa’s events, including past showcases like the EMY Africa Awards in London, serve as powerful tools for marketing Ghana globally.
“Through fashion, arts, and storytelling, we bring Africa’s beauty and talent to the world. We are eager to partner with the Ministry to amplify Ghana’s cultural footprint,” he added.
Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, warmly receiving the team, expressed admiration for EMY Africa’s vision and echoed the importance of intentional cultural packaging.
“We need to re-look at how we present Ghanaian culture, even something as simple as yam and garden eggs can be transformed into a fine dining experience,” she said, pointing to global examples such as Morocco’s tourism model.
She lamented missed opportunities in past international events where Africa was underrepresented or misrepresented, emphasizing the need for authentic storytelling and high standards. “We are descendants of storytellers. We must do better at telling our own stories with excellence,” she stated passionately.
The Minister reaffirmed her personal commitment to supporting EMY Africa’s initiatives and welcomed further collaboration between the Ministry and the brand. She also highlighted the importance of partnerships over competition between government and private cultural stakeholders.
“This is not a competition. If we have people doing what we’re supposed to be doing, we must embrace them as collaborators. Your proposal is not only different; it speaks to a higher level of engagement and visibility for Ghana,” Hon. Gomashie concluded.
The meeting also saw the presence of Mr. Divine Kwame Owusu Ansah, Director for Culture at the Ministry, signalling official interest in ongoing dialogue between EMY Africa and government agencies as Ghana positions itself as a top destination for cultural and creative experiences across the continent.
