African Music Week Accra 2025 Officially Launched with Focus on Music Tourism and Industry Growth

The African Music Week (AMW) Accra 2025 was officially launched on December 27, 2024, at the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) with an inspiring evening of speeches, panel discussions, and live performances.

Scheduled to take place from December 15 to 20, 2025, AMW promises to be a landmark event celebrating Africa’s rich musical heritage and its potential to boost the continent’s tourism and economy. The launch event set the stage for an exciting cultural experience and industry collaboration between Ghana and Canada.

Key Highlights of the Launch

Yofi Grant, CEO of the Ghana Investment & Promotion Centre, kicked off the evening by emphasizing the importance of AMW in showcasing Ghana’s music tourism potential and solidifying the nation’s position as a leading cultural destination.

Julz Ossom, Founder and President of African Music Week, introduced the festival, underscoring its mission to connect the African music industry and promote global visibility for African artists. He shared the initiative’s dual focus: fostering industry links within Africa and raising awareness of African music in international markets.

A keynote address by Ruddy Kwakye, Founder & CEO of The Rave Group, discussed how leveraging music tourism could drive sustainable industry growth and cultural exchange. Kwakye’s speech centered on how music tourism could enhance Ghana’s economy and establish the country as a prime music hub.

Notable Speakers and Their Insights

• Bessa Simons, President of MUSIGA, spoke about the pivotal role of the Musicians Union of Ghana in supporting music tourism, particularly in creating new revenue streams for Ghanaian artists.
• Rex Omar, Chairman of GHAMRO, emphasized the importance of collective management organizations in building a fair and lucrative music tourism framework, calling for greater participation of Ghanaian artists in GHAMRO’s initiatives.
• Mark Okraku-Mantey, Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to developing the creative industries as part of a broader tourism strategy. He expressed optimism that the incoming administration would continue to build on the progress made.

Engaging Panel Discussion

The launch featured a dynamic panel discussion moderated by Eve, which explored actionable strategies to harness music tourism in Ghana. Panelists included Benjamin Anane-Nsiah (Deputy CEO, Ghana Tourism Authority), Khadijat El-Alawa (CEO, The Continent Live), Vy Prosper (Producer, TV Host, and Author), Rocky Dawuni (Grammy-Nominated Artist), and Edem (Artist & Founder, VRMG).

The discussion focused on integrating music tourism into Ghana’s broader tourism strategy, drawing on successful global case studies and providing policy recommendations for long-term industry growth.

Exciting Performances

The launch also showcased performances from well-known artists, including Bessa Simons, Drupz, Feli Nuna, Byno Ayoni, and Bugatti Bonsu (Canada). These performances provided a taste of the vibrant musical diversity that will be featured at AMW 2025.

Looking Forward to AMW 2025

The launch of African Music Week Accra 2025 marks the beginning of an exciting journey for the festival. With a focus on music tourism, AMW aims to position Ghana as a key cultural destination, attracting global audiences and fostering collaboration between artists, stakeholders, and music lovers.

AMW 2025 is set to be a major milestone for the African music industry, offering an exceptional platform for cultural exchange, industry development, and tourism promotion. Powered by Aim2Impact, with support from GIPC, the Ghana Tourism Authority, Beyond The Return, Special Ice, Aftown Music, The Continent Live, and others, this event is poised to make a significant impact on both the music and tourism sectors in Ghana and beyond.