Ghana’s premier literary gathering, Pa Gya! A Literary Festival in Accra, will mark its tenth anniversary from October 16 to 18, 2026, returning to the Goethe-Institut Ghana and the Foundation for Contemporary Art–Ghana in Cantonments. Organised by the Writers Project of Ghana in partnership with the Goethe-Institut and the Foundation for Contemporary Art-Ghana, the three-day event continues its mission of igniting passion for the literary arts under the Twi-derived name “Pa Gya,” which means “to lift” or “to strike a flame.”
Since its launch in 2017, Pa Gya! has grown into a vital annual platform that brings together writers, readers, publishers, performers, and cultural practitioners from Ghana and across the African continent and diaspora. The anniversary edition promises a rich mix of book readings and launches, panel discussions, poetry performances, storytelling sessions, theatre, exhibitions, film screenings, comics and graphic novel programming, prize ceremonies, and a lively book market.
Organisers have emphasised commemorative programming to honour the festival’s decade-long contribution to Ghana’s literary culture while maintaining the open, participatory spirit that has defined previous editions.
A highlight of the 2026 programme is the headline conversation titled “The Nature of the Story: Central Themes in Ghanaian and African Literature.” Two prominent Ghanaian literary figures, Professor Ato Quayson and Kinna Likimani, will lead the discussion. Quayson, a distinguished scholar of postcolonial literature and African writing, and Likimani, a respected literary organiser and advocate, are expected to explore enduring and emerging themes that shape storytelling on the continent.
Their conversation forms a centrepiece of the opening evening’s events, following the official opening ceremony in the courtyard of the Goethe-Institut.
The broader lineup already features notable writers including Nigerian novelist and publisher Eghosa Imasuen, Nigerian writer and medical doctor Wale Okediran, and Ghanaian author Boakyewaa Glover, among others. Programming spans multiple rooms and outdoor spaces across the two host venues, allowing audiences to move between simultaneous sessions.
Returning favourites such as the reader-focused panel “Lust in Translation,” which examines why audiences gravitate toward romance and erotica, will sit alongside new conversations, including discussions of Ayi Kwei Armah’s legacy and explorations of songwriting as a literary practice.
In the days leading up to the main festival, a three-day Self-Editing Workshop for emerging and established writers will run from October 14 to 16 at the British Council on Liberia Road. Organised in partnership with the Caine Prize for African Writing and supported by the British Council and the Open Society Foundations, the workshop is facilitated by Dzifa Benson.
It focuses on the craft of revision structural editing, line editing, language choices, and preparing manuscripts for submission rather than generating new work. Up to 15 participants will be selected based on writing samples and details of a work-in-progress. Attendance is free for those chosen, with a requirement of full three-day commitment.
Additional masterclasses scheduled around the festival opening include sessions on research for literary projects, publishing, storytelling techniques, and audio drama as literary art. These practical offerings reflect Pa Gya!’s dual commitment to celebrating established work and nurturing new voices.
The festival has long drawn half of its programming from proposals submitted by writers, publishers, cultural organisations, and the public an approach that keeps the event responsive to the community it serves.
Partners and Supporters of Pa Gya 2026
Partners and supporters for the tenth edition include the European Union, the British Council, the Caine Prize for African Writing, Vidya Bookstore, and media outlets such as Joy News, Citi 97.3 FM, and Channel One TV. Their involvement underscores the festival’s role as a collaborative platform that links local literary activity with international networks.
Over the past decade, Pa Gya! has helped amplify Ghanaian and African writing at a time when interest in the continent’s literature continues to grow globally, while also providing a physical space in Accra where readers and creators can meet face to face.
The Writers Project of Ghana, founded in 2009, has used the festival as one of its flagship activities alongside public readings, radio programming, workshops, and publishing initiatives. By sustaining Pa Gya! for ten consecutive years, the organisation and its partners have created a reliable annual landmark on the West African cultural calendar.
The 2026 edition arrives as African literature enjoys heightened international attention through prizes, translations, and expanding publishing infrastructure, yet organisers remain focused on the grassroots work of building audiences and supporting writers at home.
Audiences can expect an atmosphere that balances serious literary conversation with celebration and accessibility. Events take place in the inviting settings of the Goethe-Institut and the Foundation for Contemporary Art, both located in the Cantonments area of Accra.
Full schedules, workshop applications, and further details are available through the Writers Project of Ghana website and the festival’s social media channels.
As Pa Gya! enters its second decade, the anniversary festival offers both reflection on a decade of sustained literary activity and a forward-looking programme of readings, discussions, and performances. For writers, readers, and anyone invested in the power of stories, the three days in mid-October promise to strike the flame once again.
