The frenzy about Ghana’s fugu which took the entire African continent by storm is not settling anytime soon. This is because the Zambian government has invited Ghana to hold a mega Fugu and Kente exhibition at their biggest events ground in Lusaka the capital to further promote the Ghanaian cultural outfit which has become a major talking point across Africa.
At the ongoing Africa Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Foreign Affairs Ministers from across the continent and delegates from member states have been enquiring from the Ghanaian delegation about where they could get the beautiful fugu which has become a fashion statement.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa confirming the news of the exhibition to 3news said “we’re going to Zambia next month for a Fugu and Kente trade exhibition because there is so much high demand and my counterpart (the Zambian foreign minister) keeps calling and asking where can we find the fugu.
“They’ve given us their biggest trade exhibition center and that’s where we’re going to do the fugu and Kente exhibition.”
The Minister who was inundated by queries from his colleague foreign minister about where to get the fugu noted that “the momentum is very good internationally so I have instructed all our ambassadors and high commissioners that with the coming ‘National Day’ on 6th March they should organize a Fugu and Kente fair so that we can ride on this momentum positively.”
One of the Key Performance Indicators (KPI) given to Ghana’s enoys under this new government is to increase economic diplomacy through trade and the new Fugu frenzy is a perfect opportunity for the missions to achieve this target.
The minister said “this is good for economic diplomacy. We should promote made in Ghana, lets expose our fabrics and our beautiful cultures to other people. All of this is marketing Ghana and I like how all of this is turning out.”
What started out as a joke to mock Ghana’s President, H.E. John Mahama when he arrived in Zambia on a state visit wearing a gorgeous Fugu has become one of the most powerful free-marketing strategies for Ghana after the entire country rallied behind the president to show off the beautiful Fugu which is a national identity.
The Zambian President, H.E. Hachainde Hichilema said he would order a few pieces of the beautiful Fugu for himself and his friends after he was gifted a Fugu by Ghana’s President after the state visit.
The foreign minister in a subtle jab at those who began the mockery of the fugu by referring to it as a blouse, said “we thank those who started this thinking they were trolling our president and teasing Ghana… It’s turned out very well for us and we pray that the good Lord will bless them.”
By Martin Asiedu-Dartey
