This is a festival celebrated by the Ashantis to commemorate their ancestors, the seasons and timings of various agricultural activities
January
Fao
Navrongo, Upper East
The Fao festival is celebrated by communities in the Kassena Nankana Traditional Area to give thanks to the gods for protecting the people throughout the farming season and also express their appreciation for bumper harvest.
February
Dipo (Puberty rites)
Odumase Krobo
During this festival, puberty rights are performed on adolescent girls to initiate them into womanhood. This festival is also an opportunity for the people to exhibit their beautiful hand-made beads.
March
Gologo
Talensi tong Zuk, Upper East
This is a pre-harvest festival celebrated with sacrifices offered to ensure plentiful rain, a good harvest and to seek for protection in the coming season from the earthly gods.
May
Aboakyer
Winneba (Efutus), Central Region
The festival which translates as ‘hunting for game or animal’ in the Fante dialect was instituted to commemorate the migration of Simpafo (traditional name of the people of Winneba).
June-July
Ohum
Akyem Abuakwa, Eastern Region
A two days festival celebrated to mark the first yam harvest and ask for God’s blessings in the coming year. It also marks the anniversary of the Akyem nation.
1st Tuesday in July
Bakatue
Elmina (Edinafo), Central Region
The festival marks the beginning of the fishing season in Elmina. During this celebration, the people offer thanks and prayers to the gods for a good fishing year.
July-August
Asafotufiam
Ada, Greater Accra
The festival is celebrated in remembrance of the achievements of the ancestors who fought in wars for the settlement of their people. A local dance ‘Kpatsa’ is performed to entertain the chief and people.
July – August
Damba
Nalerigu, Tamale, Northern Region and Wa, Upper West
The festival is celebrated to mark the birth and naming of Muhammad but mainly as a glorification of the chieftaincy. It is celebrated in the Dagomba lunar month of Damba.
August
Akwambo
Agona Swedru/Agona Nyakrom
This festival is celebrated to commemorate the journey and arrival of the founding settlers of four towns namely, Ekrawfo, Otabenadze, Gyinankoma and Atakwaa.
August/September
Homowo
Gas, Greater Accra Region
The people of Ga celebrate Homowo which means to hoot at hunger in remembrance of the famine that once occurred in their history as a people in the pre-colonial era.
September
Awubia
Ewutu, Central Region
It is celebrated to hoot at hunger and welcome bumper harvest of grains.
1st Saturday in September
Fetu Afahye
Cape Coast (Oguafo), Central
The festival is celebrated in remembrance of a historic disease outbreak, to keep the town clean and to prevent another epidemic befalling the people.
September
Kobine
Lawra, Upper West Region
Kobine is a traditional dance and festival unique to the Lawra area of north western Ghana. The dance and the festival named after it are celebrated in September and October to mark the end of a successful harvest.
September
Odwira
Akropong-Akwapim, Eastern Region
This festival marks the celebration of a historic victory over the Ashantis in the past.
September 7 – 9
Kundum
Nzema, Western Region
Kundum is celebrated to thank God for the abundance of food during the harvest season of the area.
1st Saturday in September
Epor
Lolobi-Kumasi, Volta Region
October
Ngmayem
Odumase Krobo,Greater Accra Region
The festival is celebrated to commemorate the end of a famine that occurred some years past and to foster tribal unity and educate the younger generation on their history as a people.
October
Apoo
Wenchi/Tekyiman, Brong Ahafo Region
This is a festival of purification of the people to rid them of social evil.
October
Fofie Yam
Nchiraa near Wenchi, Brong Ahafo Region
The festival is celebrated to offer thanks to the gods for the harvest and invoke further blessings and protection for the year ahead.
November
Kloyosikplem
Yilo Krobo, Eastern Region
November
Dodoleglime
Ve Traditional Area, Volta Region
The festival which translates as ‘coming out of the wall’ in the Ewe language is celebrated to mark the migration of the people from Notsie (a town in Togo) during the reign of Togbe Agorkoli. The festival is also to honor certain ancestors who played key roles in their secret escape.
1st Saturday in November
Hogbetsotso
Anloga, Volta Region
The name of the festival means coming from Hogbe (Notsie) or festival of exodus. The festival is celebrated in remembrance of the migration of the Anglo people from a wicked king, Togbe Agorkoli.
November
Mmoaninko
Ofinso, Ashanti Region
November -December
Adekyem
Bechem, Brong Ahafo
Bechem is derived from the Akan name ‘Adekyem,’ which literally means a place where items or gifts are distributed or shared, to remind the historical role of Bechem as the place where booty gained from the Asante wars was shared.
December
Fiok
Builsa’s – Sandema, Upper East Region
This festival is celebrated as a harvest thanksgiving sacrifice to the gods of the Sandema people through the display of war dance by the various communities
