Blackstar Experience to Feature Concert Party Competitions and Cultural Events – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has unveiled plans for the Blackstar Experience, a flagship initiative aimed at positioning Ghana as the gateway to Africa for the global diaspora.

According to Mahama, the program, which is featured in the 2024 National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto, will offer a series of curated cultural, historical, and creative arts experiences in partnership with the private sector, diplomatic missions, and various government agencies.

In his State of the Nation Address on February 27, 2025, Mahama explained that the Blackstar Experience will include a wide range of activities, including concert party competitions, film events, street carnivals, and more. “The Pan African Month will be a key component of the Blackstar Experience, featuring street carnivals, a film week, a fashion festival, a food fair, theater and drama performances, concert party competitions, and monthly domestic tourism events,” he said. The initiative is designed to establish the Blackstar Experience as a distinct tourism brand that is uniquely Ghanaian.

Additionally, Rex Owusu Marfo, also known as Rex Omar, a renowned Ghanaian musician and entrepreneur, has been appointed as the Presidential Staffer for the Blackstar Experience.

During his address, President Mahama also emphasized the government’s commitment to transforming the Osu Castle into a major tourist attraction. “We will develop the Osu Castle and its surrounding area into a key tourist site, complete with a pedestrian precinct, arts and crafts market, jewelry and gold markets. This 22-acre development will become a must-visit destination for tourists,” he said.

Tourism, culture, and the creative arts continue to be vital pillars of Ghana’s national development, playing a crucial role in job creation, cultural exchange, and economic growth. Mahama acknowledged the progress made in recent years with the launch of transformative initiatives aimed at positioning Ghana as a top global destination.

He also highlighted plans to boost the country’s tourism sector by promoting meetings, conferences, and exhibitions tourism, capitalizing on Ghana’s peaceful and democratic environment to attract international summits and business conventions.

Lastly, Mahama pledged to revive the Marine Drive Project, a key urban redevelopment initiative aimed at transforming 241 acres of Accra’s coastline into a dynamic tourism and economic hub.

Despite progress stalling since the cabinet approval in 2016, Mahama assured the public that his government would reassess the project and take decisive steps to get it back on track.