Ministry of Tourism holds stakeholders validation workshop to review National Cultural Policy

Ghana is looking forward revitalize its cultural landscape with an overhaul of the National Cultural Policy, which hasn’t been revised since 2004.

The existing policy has been rendered obsolete due to the rapid pace at which technology is developing and the changing needs of society.

With funding from UNESCO and the European Union, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture is leading an initiative to modernize the policy to meet the contemporary development trends.

Ghana’s vibrant cultural heritage—marked by its diverse ethnic groups, languages, and artistic traditions—remains a fundamental aspect of the nation’s identity.

To ensure broad-based input, the Ministry convened a validation workshop at the Accra International Conference Centre[AICC] on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, bringing together key stakeholders from the creative industries, civil society, academia, and traditional authorities. Participants discussed the draft policy and provided valuable feedback.

Present at the workshop included Mr. H.E. Edward Mukala, UNESCO Country Representative, Ms. Margo Pitura, the European Union representative, representatives of the Spanish, Mexican, Republic of Suadi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates   Embassies in Ghana, and the Deputy Minister for Creative Arts Mark Okraku Mantey.

Key objectives of the new policy include:

1. Prioritize the protection, conservation and promotion of Ghana’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
2. Encourage the growth and sustainability of Ghana’s creative industries, such as music, film, fashion, visual arts, crafts and performing arts.

III. Emphasized the integration of cultural education into formal and informal learning systems.

1. Facilitate cultural exchange programs, collaborations and partnerships with other nations.
2. Enhance indigenous technology promotion of traditional medicine.
3. Incorporation of cultural inputs in the governance system

The representatives from UNESCO and the European Union expressed their support for Ghana’s efforts to preserve and promote its cultural heritage.

They emphasized the role of culture in driving sustainable development and economic growth.

The revised National Cultural Policy is expected to be unveiled later this year.