Cape Coast, Ghana – The official launch of AfroTorch 2025, a vibrant celebration of Ghana’s culture, arts, and tourism, took place yesterday at the historic Eminstimadze Palace in Cape Coast.
The event, which marked the beginning of a new chapter in tourism promotion in the Central Region, was attended by key industry stakeholders, media representatives, and traditional leaders.
In his address, Michael Orleans, CEO of Torchlight Tours, the organizers of AfroTorch, emphasized the festival’s potential to transform Ghana’s tourism industry.
“AfroTorch 2025 is more than just an event; it’s a movement that honors African excellence, resilience, and unity with our culture,” Orleans declared. “Beyond entertainment, this festival is an economic catalyst—empowering local businesses, creating job opportunities, and strengthening our tourism sector.”
Scheduled to take place from December 24th to 26th, 2025, AfroTorch will transform Cape Coast into a vibrant hub of culture, creativity, and business. The festival’s theme, “Igniting Culture, Tourism & Business,” reflects its goal of promoting Ghana’s rich cultural heritage, boosting tourism, and driving economic growth.
The three-day festival will feature a range of exciting activities, including heritage tours, beach carnivals, live music, art exhibitions, cultural performances, and a grand food fair showcasing the best of Ghanaian cuisine.
Osabarimba Kwesi Atta II, the Oguaamanhen, applauded Torch Light Tours for the initiative and pledged his support for the festival. “I am excited about the potential of AfroTorch 2025 to promote our rich cultural heritage and drive tourism in the region,” he said.
Mr. Charles Buabin, the Central Regional Director of GTA, also expressed his support, highlighting the importance of events like AfroTorch in driving tourism in the region. “We’re working to give tourists more experience to increase their length of stay in Cape Coast and events like AfroTorch become the vehicle to drive tourism,” he observed.
A second launch of AfroTorch 2025 is planned for Cape Town, South Africa in April during this year’s WTM Africa.
The festival is expected to attract thousands of visitors, including international tourists, influencers, and media representatives. With its rich history and stunning coastline, Cape Coast provides the perfect backdrop for AfroTorch 2025.
Orleans extended an invitation to corporate entities, investors, and media partners to support the event, highlighting the benefits of sponsorship. “Your sponsorship is not just an investment in tourism but in economic growth, community empowerment, and the promotion of Africa as a premier travel destination,” he said.
With AfroTorch 2025, Ghana is poised to take its rightful place as a premier tourist destination in Africa. The festival promises to be an unforgettable experience, showcasing the best of Ghana’s culture, arts, and tourism.
The three-day festival will keep the coastal city alive with a street carnival, music concert, all-black beach party, cultural demonstrations, masquerade procession, and free heritage tours. The theme for the immersive festival is “Unleash Your Blackness.”
Mr. Michael Orleans, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Torch Light Tours, founders of the festival, highlighted the potential of leisure tourism in recent years and stressed the need to leverage it to boost traditional tourism. He noted that the festival was intended to promote tourism and culture and drive more numbers to Cape Coast during the yuletide.
He observed with worry that the “December in Ghana” activities were heavily centralized in Accra, arguing that Cape Coast as the hub of tourism needed to have a fair share of the events.
As the excitement builds towards December 2025, organizers are optimistic that AfroTorch will leave a lasting impact on the region’s cultural, arts, and tourism scene.
“AfroTorch 2025 is a game-changer for Ghana’s tourism industry,” Orleans said. “We invite everyone to join us in Cape Coast this December for an unforgettable experience that will showcase the best of Ghana’s culture, arts, and tourism.”
