As public debate intensifies over claims that December in Ghana is losing its shine, creatives and industry stakeholders insist the festive season is not declining but evolving and expanding in scale and impact.
This formed the core of discussions on Y Holiday Havoc Convo, a special December segment introduced by YFM Ghana as part of its flagship Y Holiday Havoc campaign.
The conversation aired on the station’s Myd Morning Show, hosted by Rev Erskine, with DJ Ganj on the decks.
Responding to questions about whether December in Ghana has declined, Bernard Kafui Sokpe, Founder of Jambo Spaces and popularly known as Mista Meister, said his experience as a creative shows the opposite.
“December in Gh is still happening even more than before,” he said.
He pointed to the growth in major events as evidence. “Previously, we had just a few stadium events, but this year we have three or more. Legon never used to give out their stadium, but now they’ve already hosted two events. That alone tells you that things are opening up.”
According to Mista Meister, the expansion goes far beyond headline concerts. He said the December economy now supports a wide ecosystem involving security services, vendors, bars, fashion, and hospitality businesses.
“It’s bigger than just parties,” he explained. “There’s a whole ecosystem around it. A lot more people are benefiting from December activities — it’s just not being amplified properly.”
He argued that the real challenge lies in visibility rather than volume. “Everything is happening in pockets. If you really want to see what’s going on, you have to check vlogs or platforms like YFM. It doesn’t feel concerted enough for people to see the full picture or get daily updates of what’s happening across the country.”
Another panellist, Ekow Quanzie, Head of PR and Sustainability at Global Media Alliance, known on Facebook as WhyAlwaysEkow, said tangible indicators show December in Ghana remains strong.
“One of the key touch points is arrivals,” he said. “When you go to the airport, you can clearly see that more people are coming in. In fact, the airport had to open an overflow car park to accommodate the inflows.”
He noted that the range of activities has also widened. “Beyond parties and concerts, there are thought leadership events happening as well. December is becoming more dynamic.”
Ekow cited platforms such as Entertainment Week Ghana as key in showcasing the breadth of December activities, while stressing the importance of public relations and marketing in driving tourism growth.
“Tourism is about PR and marketing,” he said. “Countries spend heavily to attract tourists. Ghana is fortunate; we have natural sites, a vibrant youth culture, political stability, and global goodwill.”
He added that Ghana’s influence on the continent presents an opportunity. “Many countries seek validation from Ghana; therefore, we should capitalise on this and do better at amplification.”
Both panellists agreed that while the private sector has powered much of December’s success, stronger coordination, deliberate storytelling, and enhanced marketing — including government support — could elevate December in Ghana to an even bigger global attraction.