“We are bringing the whole North to Accra” — Guinea fowl bazaar opens in capital

The Chief Executive Officer of By Faith Catering Services, Matilda Zenabu Pipio (KSS), says this year’s Guinea Fowl Bazaar in Accra is designed to give residents a full “Northern experience” through food, culture and tourism promotion.

Speaking on Asaase Café on Wednesday (29 April), Pipio, who also leads the By Faith Charity Foundation and serves as organiser of the event, said the bazaar is part of efforts to promote social cohesion and showcase northern Ghana’s cultural assets beyond the region.

The event, dubbed the “Guinea Fowl Bazaar – Accra Edition”, will be held for the first time in the capital at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park from Friday, May 1 to Saturday, May 2, running daily from 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

“It is about promoting family socialisation, promoting the north, and promoting the consumption of guinea fowl,” she said.

Guinea fowl, a delicacy widely associated with northern Ghana, is at the centre of the event, alongside a range of traditional dishes and local products.

According to Mrs Pipio, the bazaar—now in its eighth year in northern Ghana—has been brought to Accra to allow southerners experience northern cuisine and culture without travelling.

“We are bringing the whole north to Accra. When you come, you are experiencing the north,” she said.

She added that the event will feature traditional foods such as palm soup with guinea fowl, local drinks, shea butter products, and cultural performances. There will also be exhibitions of northern crafts, including mats, pottery, and traditional artefacts.

Officials from the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) have backed the initiative, describing it as part of efforts to promote domestic tourism and package culture as a tourism product.

A GTA representative on the programme said cultural experiences such as the bazaar help bridge the geographical and cultural gap between northern and southern Ghana.

“Once people experience it, they are encouraged to travel up north and see more,” the official said.

Mrs Pipio also noted that mothers and traditional artists from northern communities have been brought to Accra to showcase indigenous painting and crafts, transforming sections of the park into a cultural exhibition space.

The Speaker of Parliament is expected to officially open the event, which organisers say will also include children’s activities and family-friendly programmes.

Organisers say most vendors will offer discounted prices during the two-day event as part of efforts to encourage public participation.

“We don’t always have to make money. We must give back to society,” Mrs Pipio said.

She also urged families to attend together, adding that the event offers both entertainment and education for children.

“Bring your family. Let my sisters and wives rest and come to the park. Everything will be there—food, culture, and entertainment,” she said.

The Guinea Fowl Bazaar Accra edition comes as organisers push to position northern Ghana’s cultural heritage as a key driver of domestic tourism.