Opong-Fosu to headline 37th Annual Chicago GhanaFest

Board Chairman of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Akwasi Opong-Fosu, has been named Guest of Honor for the 37th Annual Chicago GhanaFest.

The announcement was made by the Ghana National Council of Metropolitan Chicago, organisers of the annual event, which will take place on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at Washington Park in Chicago, Illinois.

The festival, now in its 37th edition, is one of the largest annual gatherings of the Ghanaian community in the United States.

It celebrates Ghana’s rich cultural heritage while serving as a platform to promote trade, investment, networking and collaboration between Ghana and the diaspora.

This year’s festival is themed “Connecting Our Community Through Culture and Commerce,” reflecting the organisers’ commitment to strengthening economic and cultural ties between Ghana and the United States through the active participation of the Ghanaian diaspora.

Announcing the appointment, the organisers said, “We are honored to welcome Hon. Akwasi Opong-Fosu, Board Chairman of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), as the Guest of Honor at the 37th Annual GhanaFest.”

The Council described Opong-Fosu as “a distinguished statesman and former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development” who has devoted decades to advancing good governance, economic development and sustainable growth in Ghana.

It also highlighted his current role at the GIPC, saying, “As Chairman of the GIPC Board, he is leading efforts to strengthen Ghana’s investment climate, attract strategic partnerships, and promote opportunities that drive innovation, job creation, and shared prosperity.”

According to the organisers, his participation reinforces the festival’s focus on deepening economic cooperation between Ghana and the United States, while recognising the important contribution of Ghanaians abroad to national development.

“His presence at GhanaFest underscores the festival’s 2026 theme, ‘Connecting Our Community Through Culture and Commerce,’ highlighting the important role the Ghanaian diaspora plays in strengthening economic ties between Ghana and the United States,” the statement said.

The Ghana National Council of Metropolitan Chicago called on members of the Ghanaian community and the public to join in welcoming Opong-Fosu to Chicago as they celebrate Ghanaian heritage, culture and opportunities for greater investment and collaboration during the 37th Annual GhanaFest.