Project Lead for the Sekondi-Takoradi Christmas City Project, Charles Cobbina, is on a two-week working visit to the United Kingdom to explore opportunities for partnerships with city-based associations and organisations for the project.

Launched in 2020 and at the behest of the Western Region Coordinating Council, the Sekondi-Takoradi Christmas City Project aims to make the twin city the preferred destination for Christmas revellers.

The project which covers December 19 to January 2 highlights several jaw-dropping events and unique places of interest including a waterfall, crocodile pond, fort, museum and other historical grounds.

The most revered of the project is the masquerade parade which assembles over 40 masquerade groups with a display of iconic dance moves to brass band music.

Charles Cobbina outlined his visit to ConnectNews in London Victoria and expressed the hope “to leave with at least one partnership.

“I will be meeting with some organisations that I’ve already spoken with from Ghana. I will also meet Ghanaian societies, and government officials. I’m here essentially to sell the project to our brothers and sisters and look at how it can assume a global dimension.

“I will also be exploring the possibility of staging a masquerade parade in one of the cities here in the UK, where we will have some groups coming from Ghana to participate. I will also start a discussion on forming groups here in the UK who will in the future also come to Ghana to participate.”

He added: “Top on my agenda will also be to meet representatives of media houses here in the UK, make a strong case for the project and encourage them to attend this year’s edition ultimately to rebroadcast particularly the masquerade parade to its audience.”

2023 edition

Last year the project attracted some 200,000 new visitors from Ghana and across the world.

Mr Cobbina is hoping to build on that success with the introduction of new and attractive events.

He announced: “There will be 5 masquerade festivals that will be hosted in 4 different locations including Takoradi, Effia, Essikado and Sekondi.

“There are over 60 other events to complement the Masquerade Carnivals. There will be a Ben Brako Show on January 1. Over 15 activities have been pencilled to mark the 5th Anniversary of the Taadi Mall.

“We will have a Brass-band and an all metal band Competitions and some religious events on December 31 and January 1,” he added.

“Another innovation we have added is that, we will organise a bus ride to historical sites. And this will run for 10 days. I’m not mentioning the sites because it is a surprise and we intend to keep it that way.”