The National Commission on Culture (NCC) has announced plans to give Ghanaians and visitors a distinctly cultural Christmas experience as part of efforts to promote and sell Ghana through its rich cultural heritage.

The initiative, dubbed Black Star Christmas, is expected to take place at the Afua Sutherland Children’s Park in Accra from December 23 to 24, 2026.

Speaking at the launch of the initiative on October 20, 2026, Executive Director of the National Commission on Culture, Wakefield Wisdom Ackuaku, said the programme was inspired by President John Dramani Mahama’s flagship Black Star Experience programme.

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According to him, the NCC wants to contribute to the vision by creating an experience that places Ghanaian culture at the centre of the country’s Christmas celebrations.

He explained that although Ghana’s December festivities have become increasingly popular, the celebrations have largely become contemporary and targeted at particular demographics, prompting the NCC to develop a cultural alternative.

Ackuaku said the Black Star Christmas is intended to ensure that people who visit Ghana during the festive season do not leave with memories of only food, drinks and entertainment, but also take away a deeper appreciation of the country’s culture.

“It was a good idea, something we can do together to make sure that people who come around during Christmas do not only celebrate the Christmas biscuits and Christmas food, but they must take away the culture,” he said.

The Executive Director further disclosed that entry to the two-day event will be free, allowing people from different backgrounds to participate.

However, he clarified that food, drinks, games and other activities at the venue will not be free.

Instead, the organisers intend to operate a cashless system, with visitors purchasing coupons online or at designated locations to access the various offerings at the event.

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“So we managed to secure the Afua Sutherland Children’s Park so we can have this event on the 23rd and 24th of December. The catch here is it’s a free-entry event.

“We want everybody to feel a part of it, to be immersed in it, so that at the end of the day, you go home with something. The fact that it’s a free event doesn’t mean the drinks, the food, the games and other things will be free,” he explained.

Further detailing activities lined up for the much-anticipated Black Star Christmas event, Wakefield Wisdom Ackuaku noted that one of the major attractions will be a dedicated kids’ zone, where children will have the opportunity to enjoy traditional Ghanaian games that are gradually becoming less familiar to younger generations.

Activities will include tug-of-war, pilolo, tumantu and ampe, among others.

“As you rightly heard, we have a kid zone where we are making sure that mommy and daddy can drop their kids. Let the kids be in their own world. They’ll have their tug-of-war.

“We’ll have pilolo, where it’s more like a treasure hunt kind of thing. So they’ll find treasures that they can take home,” Ackuaku added.

Although this year’s Black Star Christmas will be held in Accra, the Executive Director noted that the initiative could eventually be replicated across the country.

He explained that the NCC has district cultural offices in every district and regional directorates in every regional capital, giving the Commission the structure needed to organise similar programmes across Ghana.

According to him, the success and reception of the Accra event could determine whether the Black Star Christmas experience is expanded to other regions.

“Depending on how this one catches on, nothing prevents us from replicating this experience in all the other regions,” he added.

Watch videos from the event below:

@omensah_1 Executive Director of the National Commission on Culture in Ghana Wakefield Wisdom Ackuaku has thrown light on the newly launched “Black Star Christmas” festival scheduled for December 23 and 24 at the Efua Sutherland Park… Free entry #dettydecember #fyp ♬ original sound - Event Police 👮 🎙️

Director of Diaspora Affairs at the Office of the President @simply_kod has encouraged Ghanaians and Diasporans to participate in the ‘Black Star Christmas’ scheduled to take place on December 23 and 24 at the Efua Sutherland Park…

It’s free entry #dettydecember https://t.co/qQDjqW8LC5

— @Mr Mensah🤍🎙 (@Omensah_Henry) October 21, 2026