"Hundreds of people flocked to Takoradi on Christmas Day as the city hosted the annual Ankos Festival, also known as the Takoradi Masquerade or Street Carnival. Footage captured on Thursday shows attendees marching through streets in colourful, extravagant costumes and masks as performers danced and played music. "The energy over here is crazy, as compared to any massive carnival in Ghana. There's no one that comes close to it. The whole of Ghana, Takoradi Ankos is top-notch," Kofi Ben, one of the attendees, said. The festival, which traditionally runs from December 24 to 26, is the highlight of the Christmas season in Ghana's Western Region, attracting hundreds. The Ankos Festival dates back to the early 20th century, when communities in Takoradi, initially beginning in Saltpond and Winneba, blended European carnival traditions with local Ghanaian cultural practices."