Throughout October, the Embassy of Italy in Ghana organised a number of initiatives dedicated to art, design and intercultural dialogue, in collaboration with local institutions and cultural organisations.
On 4 October, the exhibition “Oltre la creazione. Umanità, natura, spiritualità, un messaggio universale” (Beyond Creation. Humanity, Nature, Spirituality: A Universal Message) opened at the Art Centre in Accra, marking the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis of Assisi. Curated by Walter Andrea Ghia and Nuna Adisenu Doe, the exhibition brings together works by approximately forty artists, creating a dialogue between Franciscan thought and African ecological and spiritual traditions. The opening – attended by the Ambassador to Accra, Laura Ranalli, and representatives from Ghana’s institutions and the cultural world, the diplomatic corps and the Italian community – was accompanied by a reading of “The Canticle of the Creatures* in various languages, including local ones. The exhibition will close on 4 November with an event open to the public.
On 10 October, at Achimota School in Accra, Ambassador Ranalli unveiled a mural by the Italian Francesco Ferreri, known by his artist name Chekos, created as part of the ‘Artitude’ project. The work portrays the Ghanaian artist Kofi Antubam and looks ahead to the 2027 celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of Ghana’s independence and the school’s centenary.
On 28 October, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi hosted the second Italian Design Day in Ghana, organised in collaboration with the ITA Office and the University’s Department of Architecture. Architects, lecturers and students explored the topic “Rigenerare spazi, oggetti, idee, relazioni” (Regenerating spaces, objects, ideas and relations), with a particular focus on the use of natural stones, marble and ceramic tiles. The programme included an initiative on the contribution of the diaspora returning from Italy, whilst also highlighting the role of the Italian language.
In the coming weeks, the ‘Casa delle Tartarughe’ – the first Italian childcare centre in Ghana – is also set to be inaugurated as part of the celebrations for the Italian Language Week in the World.
These initiatives confirm the commitment to continuing to strengthen collaboration with local institutions and cultural exchanges between Italy and Ghana.
