Indigenous Seeds, Ancestral Food, and Traditional Foodways

Spend 5 days and 6 nights, immersed in traditional foodways, ancestral living, indigenous foods, and indigenous seed systems in the Upper East and North East Regions of Ghana. Here, you will learn everything about indigenous seeds, seed selection, seed processing, seed storage methods, and indigenous foods from farmers, women, and elders. You will experience firsthand local food culture through indigenous food workshops, traditional cooking classes, food processing, and MORE.

We will dive into the foundation of indigenous farming, seed processing, sustainable food practices, ancestral foodways, traditional cooking, and the essence of preserving our indigenous food system. You will leave feeling connected to the land, reconnected to local food systems, cooking alongside and with women from the community, and becoming a part of a movement to preserve the indigenous food system.

Overview of the trip

• Dates: December 6th - December 12th, 2026

• Duration: 5 days, 6 nights

Trip Activities

• Day 1: Arrival/Housekeeping/Introductions

• Day 2: Community Indigenous Cooking with Women (2 recipes at one community)

• Day 3: Community Indigenous Cooking with women (2 recipes at a different community)

• Day 4: Shea Butter Processing

• Day 5: Seed Processing and Preservation Methods (cowpea, bambara beans, and vegetables, with women)

• Day 6: Seed Processing and Preservation Methods (sorghum, millet, and Seed Exchange)

• Day 7: Closing and Departure

• Note: Activites are subject to change closer to the trip, however, the core aspects of indigenous cooking with women and seed processing and preservation will remain. Thank you.

Trip Inclusions

• Shared/Room accommodation (Two people in a room/separate beds) (If you want a single room, let me know, but all the rooms will be shared; a local mudhouse will have two beds in a room, one bed per person).

• 3 plant-based traditional meals a day

• All Activities and Cooking workshops

• Roundtrip Airport Shuttle from Tamale Airport to Bolgatanga

Not Included

• Roundtrip Flights to Ghana

• Roundtrip Flight to Tamale from Accra

• Ghana Visa payment (but visa support will be provided)

About Upper East Region

The Upper East Region is Ghana's northeastern region, known for its distinct culture, crafts (basketry, smocks), and agriculture (millet, sorghum), with Bolgatanga as the capital and major hub for commerce and handicraft production. Bordered by Burkina Faso (N) and Togo (E), it features a savannah climate and landscapes with hills, famous for sites like the Tongo Rocks and Paga Crocodile Pond, and is home to groups like the Frafra, Builsa, and Kusasi

Host Abena

Abena works with farmers on seed security, seed sovereignty, food sovereignty, and farmer rights. Abena is in partnership with Hawa Bangrey in Tongo to preserve indigenous foods, local knowledge, traditional recipes, and foodways through the Taste of Bolga program.

COST- The cost has been provided in USD

• Early Bird: 800USD (register before May 31, 2026)

• Standard Price: 1,000USD

• DEPOSIT to secure your spot:250USD. The deposit will be subtracted from the total amount.

Payment Process

All payments will be handled through PayPal or Bank Transfers. Please note to include PayPal processing fees. An instalment payment is available after the deposit has been made. For more details, direct all questions to:

Email:

Abena: abenaoffeh@gmail.com

Whatsapp:

+16478894604 OR +233533042270