Some journeys begin with a passport stamp. Others begin with a conversation that changes the way you see the world.

This September, the She Builds Conference 2026 invites women from Ghana and beyond to gather in Accra for a day of inspiring dialogue, meaningful connections, and fresh ideas about leadership, entrepreneurship, and personal growth.

Hosted at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), the conference is organised by the Academic Woman Foundation and builds on the momentum of its successful inaugural edition in 2025.

While many professional conferences focus solely on career advancement, She Builds takes a broader view. It encourages women to pursue success that balances ambition with wellbeing, purpose, and lasting social impact.

The event reflects a growing movement across Ghana where women are taking increasingly influential roles in business, education, public service, technology, and community development.

By bringing together established leaders, entrepreneurs, students, and aspiring changemakers, the conference creates a platform for exchanging ideas, sharing practical experiences, and strengthening networks that extend far beyond a single day.

Visitors can expect an energetic atmosphere featuring keynote presentations, interactive discussions, networking sessions, and opportunities to learn directly from women shaping industries and communities.

Conversations are expected to explore leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, resilience, and strategies for creating sustainable change.

Beyond the conference halls, attending She Builds offers visitors another reason to experience Accra, one of West Africa’s most dynamic cities.

Guests can sample Ghanaian cuisine at nearby restaurants, discover local arts and crafts, and enjoy the city’s welcoming hospitality before or after the event.

For international visitors, the conference offers a window into Ghana’s rapidly evolving professional landscape, where tradition and modern ambition coexist.

For Ghanaians, She Builds is equally meaningful. It offers a chance to reconnect with a growing community of women committed to supporting one another, sharing knowledge, and inspiring the next generation of leaders. The event demonstrates how collaboration can strengthen communities and create opportunities that extend well beyond the conference stage.

Whether you are travelling to Ghana in search of meaningful cultural experiences or looking to expand your professional horizons at home, the She Builds Conference 2026 promises a day filled with ideas, inspiration, and connections that could shape the future long after the final session ends.

Every July, the rhythmic beat of drums rolls across the shores of Elmina, calling residents, returning families, and curious travellers to one of Ghana’s most treasured cultural celebrations.

The Bakatue Festival is more than a colourful gathering—it is a living expression of history, identity, and the enduring bond between the people of Elmina and the sea.

Scheduled for 7–11 July 2026, this year’s festival promises several days of celebration in one of Ghana’s most historic coastal towns. Bakatue, which translates as “opening of the lagoon,” traditionally marks the beginning of the fishing season.

The festival celebrates gratitude for past blessings while seeking prosperity, safety, and abundant harvests in the months ahead.

For generations, it has served as a powerful reminder of the central role the ocean plays in the lives and livelihoods of the people of Elmina.

Visitors can expect an atmosphere filled with colour, music, and tradition. Royal processions bring chiefs and queen mothers into the streets in magnificent ceremonial regalia, accompanied by the unmistakable sounds of traditional drumming and energetic dancing.

Cultural exhibitions showcase local craftsmanship, customs, and artistic talent, while community gatherings create opportunities for visitors to experience the warmth and hospitality for which Ghana is renowned.

Food is an essential part of the celebration. Fresh seafood, local delicacies, and regional dishes offer visitors a delicious introduction to the flavours of Ghana’s Central Region. Along the coastline, the scent of grilled fish mingles with the sea breeze as families and friends gather to celebrate together.

For international travellers, Bakatue offers far more than a festival. It provides an authentic opportunity to experience Ghanaian culture within the historic setting of Elmina, a town whose centuries-old streets, fishing harbour, and coastal heritage continue to shape its identity.

For Ghanaians, the festival is an opportunity to reconnect with tradition, celebrate community, and pass cherished customs from one generation to the next.

Whether you are drawn by history, music, food, or cultural discovery, the Bakatue Festival offers an unforgettable glimpse into the traditions that continue to define Ghana’s coastal communities. In Elmina, heritage is not simply remembered—it is proudly lived, shared, and celebrated.

The rhythmic beat of traditional drums echoes through the streets as men and women dressed in vibrant kente and colourful cloth make their way towards the palace grounds.

The aroma of freshly prepared yam dishes drifts through the air, while the sound of jubilant singing welcomes visitors from near and far.

In Akyem Abuakwa, in Ghana’s Eastern Region, this is more than a festival—it is the annual homecoming known as the Ohum Festival, a celebration that blends harvest, history, faith and identity into one unforgettable experience.

Observed between June and July, Ohum marks the first yam harvest of the season and serves as a thanksgiving ceremony for God’s blessings over the past year. It is also a time for the people of Akyem Abuakwa to seek divine favour for abundant harvests, peace and prosperity in the months ahead.

Beyond agriculture, the festival commemorates the founding and enduring unity of the Akyem nation, making it one of the most significant cultural events in the area.

The festival’s origins are rooted in the deep relationship between the Akyem people, their land and their Creator. Traditionally, no one is permitted to eat the new yam until the ceremonial rites have been performed.

This custom reflects respect for the harvest and gratitude for nature’s abundance before the community begins to enjoy its fruits.

Throughout the celebration, chiefs, queen mothers and elders appear in splendid traditional regalia, accompanied by the sounding of talking drums, horn blowers and cultural troupes. A grand durbar brings together traditional leaders, government officials, residents and visitors, offering a colourful display of Akan customs and royal pageantry.

Prayers and libation are offered to honour ancestors and ask for continued protection over the people.

The festival is equally a social occasion. Families reunite, old friendships are renewed and the towns come alive with music, dance, storytelling and community feasts centred around freshly harvested yam. Local artisans and traders also benefit as visitors explore markets filled with handmade crafts, traditional textiles and regional cuisine.

Today, the Ohum Festival continues to play an important role in preserving the cultural heritage of Akyem Abuakwa while introducing younger generations to the customs that define their identity.

It also strengthens tourism in the Eastern Region, giving international visitors an authentic opportunity to experience Ghana’s living traditions beyond its famous landmarks.

For anyone seeking to understand the heart of Ghanaian culture, attending the Ohum Festival offers far more than colourful celebrations.

It is an invitation to witness a community expressing gratitude, honouring its ancestors and celebrating a heritage that has endured across generations—a journey that leaves lasting memories long after the drums fall silent.