The maiden Northern Ghana FOTO Festival in Tamale brought together photographers, cultural leaders, academics and residents to celebrate the region’s heritage through more than 600 photographs.
The event featured traditional drumming and dancing, creating a lively atmosphere that reflected the cultural themes on display.
Originally expecting only 30 entries, organisers received over 600 images from more than 60 contributors across the five northern regions. The photographs captured festivals, rituals, landscapes, portraits and everyday life, offering a broad picture of northern Ghana’s past and present.
Chairperson for the event, Prof. Elliot Haruna Alhassan of UDS, said photography is becoming an important tool for documenting and preserving Ghana’s culture.
Guest of Honour, Prof. Salifu Asuro, praised the initiative and encouraged institutions to support creative arts programmes that help promote cultural identity.
Traditional leaders, including representatives from the Gukpe Naa and Dakpemaa palaces, commended the festival for helping young people reconnect with their heritage. The Ghana Tourism Authority also expressed its support, noting that visual storytelling can promote cultural tourism and strengthen community identity.
Cultural journalist Mr. John Owoo encouraged schoolchildren at the event to consider cultural reporting. “Cultural journalism is a powerful way to preserve who we are,” he said. “When you write stories, take photos or report on traditions, you help keep Ghana’s culture alive.”
A panel discussion on “Preserving Culture, History and Community through Visual Storytelling” highlighted the importance of photography in creating a lasting cultural archive.
Festival convener Mr. Geoffrey Buta said the event aims to support cultural preservation through visual storytelling. “Our forebears relied on oral tradition to preserve history,” he noted. “Today, visual storytelling enables us to continue that work in a more permanent and accessible form.”
He announced plans to rotate the festival across northern Ghana and to make it an annual event.
Organisers believe the festival has the potential to grow into a major cultural platform that will attract broader attention while helping to protect the region’s unique heritage.
