[CLOSED] Call For Submissions: Where I’m From - A Christmas in Ghana

Creatives Project Ghana invites writers, poets, storytellers, artists and photographers to submit original works for a special Christmas-themed feature on our website.

This December, we want to explore the many meanings, memories, celebrations and traditions that shape the Ghanaian Christmas experience.

We are looking for pieces inspired by the prompt: Where I’m From: A Christmas in Ghana

We welcome:

• Short essays
• Creative nonfiction
• Short stories/ Flash fiction
• Drama pieces/hybrid
• Poetry
• Art
• Photography
• Reflective pieces or cultural commentary

Your work may explore food, family, travel, faith, music, childhood memories, humour, or traditions, as well as festive celebrations and any other aspect of how Christmas is celebrated across Ghana. You know when it comes to Christmas in Ghana, the possibilities are endless. Get creative.

Submission Guidelines

For written work

• Prose/essay/non-fiction: 1000 words
• Poetry: up to 20 lines
• Drama/monologue: up to 2 minutes reading time
• Must be original and unpublished
• Must not have been written with AI

For art / photography

• Submit high-quality JPG/PNG (max 3 works)
• Include brief description or accompanying text
• Must not have been generated by AI

This call is open to:

• Ghanaian creatives living in Ghana
• Ghanaians in the diaspora
• Africans living in Ghana

Deadline: December 18, 2025

Publication Window: December 23–26 on our website, creativesprojectgh.com

Submit to: info@creativesprojectgh.com

Subject line: Christmas Submission – [Your Name]

Formatting Requirements

For Text Submissions (Poetry, Fiction, CNF)

• File format: .doc or .docx only
• PDFs will not be reviewed for text submissions
• Font: EB Garamond, 12 pt
• Spacing: Double-spaced for prose, single-spaced for poetry
• Include page numbers on documents

Submission Process & Timeline

Due to time constraints, we will be reading and responding to submissions as we receive them.

Content That Cannot Be Published

Because of our narrative-shifting mandate, we cannot publish work that reinforces harmful stereotypes about Ghana, centres narratives of poverty, disease, corruption, or despair without nuance, or portrays the country olely through a deficit lens.

However, this does not mean avoiding criticism. We welcome bold, honest examinations of social, cultural, and political issues — including those that expose human rights violations, hold leaders accountable, and question systems or practices that harm people.

Such work must be rigorous, evidence-based, and deeply authentic, rooted in a vision for progress, justice, and dignity.

We look forward to showcasing the stories, images, and creative expressions that make a Ghanaian Christmas unforgettable.

Rights

CPG requests first publication rights and the right to archive your work on our website. After publication, all rights revert to the author/artist. If the work is republished elsewhere, please acknowledge the first publication with The Creatives Project Ghana.

Compensation

At this time, CPG is a volunteer-run, unfunded organisation, and we are not able to offer payment to contributors. We understand this may not be ideal, and we are actively seeking funding and partnerships that will allow us to offer honoraria in the future.

What we can promise: editorial care, thoughtful presentation of your work, social media features, and archiving on our website.

Withdrawal Policy

If you need to withdraw your submission, please email us with the subject line: Withdrawal – [Your Name] – [Title of Work].

We appreciate your transparency and will acknowledge the withdrawal as soon as possible.

Accessibility & Support

We want this to be accessible to all. If you encounter any technical or access barriers when submitting, please do not hesitate to reach out. We're happy to assist or offer alternative submission methods where necessary.