Ghana’s Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Hon. Yussif Issaka Jajah (MP for Ayawaso North), has received a Brazilian delegation led by celebrated Ghanaian digital media influencer and cultural ambassador, Wode Maya. The meeting explored ambitious new pathways to strengthen cultural and tourism ties between Ghana and Brazil.
During the engagement, the delegation extended an official invitation for Ghana to participate in the São Paulo Carnival and revealed a groundbreaking proposal from a leading Brazilian samba school to feature the nation as the central theme of its 2027 carnival parade. This showcase is expected to put Ghana’s rich history, culture, iconic landmarks, and heritage before millions of viewers worldwide.
Welcoming the initiative, Deputy Minister Jajah reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to exploring all opportunities that will promote Ghanaian culture, strengthen diaspora connections, boost tourism, and deepen bilateral relations with Brazil. While noting the immense potential of the proposal to significantly boost Ghana’s international branding, tourism, and investment, he also said his outfit would be requesting detailed logistics before a final commitment is made.
Full Name and Constituency
The Deputy Minister is Yussif Issaka Jajah, the Member of Parliament for the Ayawaso North Constituency in the Greater Accra Region. He was appointed Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts in February 2025 and holds a BSc in Accounting as well as an MBA in International Oil and Gas Management.
About Wode Maya
Berthold Kobby Winkler Ackon, known globally as Wode Maya, is a Ghanaian YouTuber, digital storyteller, and aeronautical engineer with over 1.95 million subscribers. In September 2025 he was awarded a diplomatic passport for his role in reshaping Africa’s global narrative. His “Africa to the World” project highlights positive stories about the continent, and his growing influence has seen him invited to major global events such as the World Economic Forum.
São Paulo Carnival and Ghana’s Carnival Potential
The São Paulo Carnival is one of the world’s largest festival celebrations, drawing tens of millions of participants and generating billions of dollars in revenue. Carnival experts have noted that Ghana could be losing out on billions of cedis in tourism revenue due to underinvestment in its local carnival culture. To address this, initiatives such as the “Black Star Carnival” are being rolled out locally, with global expertise being brought in to position Ghana as a leading cultural tourism destination in West Africa.
Deepening Ghana-Brazil Ties
The proposed carnival collaboration is the latest in a series of efforts to strengthen ties between Ghana and Brazil. Earlier this year, the Brazilian Ambassador to Ghana, Maria Elisa de Luna Madeira, touted an upcoming Afro-Brazil Ghana Festival, describing it as a platform to explore new possibilities in creative trade and tourism. That event was set to bring together artists, entrepreneurs, and investors from both countries to celebrate the vibrant cultural exchange between the two peoples.
The meeting between Deputy Minister Jajah and the Wode Maya-led delegation marks another significant step in leveraging shared Afro-Brazilian heritage to create new opportunities for cultural exchange, investment, and global visibility for Ghana.
For media inquiries or further details, please contact the Public Affairs Unit of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts.
