Brand consultant Bernard Kafui Sokpe has responded to concerns raised by Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin over the popular end-of-year celebration term “Detty December,” clarifying that the phrase is rooted in cultural celebration and tourism, not moral decline.

Sokpe, who coined the term in 2019 during a Mr. Eazi concert in Accra, said the Speaker’s interpretation of “Detty December” reflects a generational misunderstanding of its purpose and meaning.

“I don’t blame him. I just think he comes from an era where a lot of things might come off as literal for him. So, him hearing someone say, ‘Detty December’, might come across like, ‘Hey, people are just coming here to do bad things,’” he explained in an interview with GhanaWeb.

The term, derived from the playful Ghanaian expression “dirty your body,” refers to engaging in enjoyable, often high-energy activities that leave lasting positive memories. According to Sokpe, it mirrors the joy children experience when they return home from play covered in dirt—a sign that they had fun.

His response follows comments by Speaker Bagbin during a durbar at Parliament’s forecourt on Labour Day, where he raised concerns about the international perception of Ghana as a “Detty December” destination. Bagbin shared that a woman he met in the United States mentioned wanting to visit Ghana for the event, which she described as a time when people “do whatever they want for free and go back.”

“This is what is happening and it is destroying our country. We must all stand up and fight it,” Bagbin stated.

However, Sokpe challenged that view, stressing that "Detty December" has become a global magnet for cultural exchange, music, and economic activity, attracting thousands of visitors and boosting local tourism.

He highlighted the role the celebration has played in Ghana’s tourism boom, especially during the "Year of Return" and "Beyond the Return" initiatives. Sokpe added that countries like Nigeria are now looking to build similar festive structures to tap into the growing diaspora market.

“If the Speaker of Parliament has gone out there for a foreigner to see that they know Ghana because of this, now come back to the drawer and say, ‘If this is what they know Ghana for, how can we expand on it, and how can we differentiate it?’” he said.

The debate has sparked renewed conversations about how Ghana balances its growing cultural brand with its national image, especially as global attention continues to focus on its vibrant December festivities.