Ghana is poised to rejuvenate its cultural landscape by revamping the National Cultural Policy, which has remained unchanged since 2004.
The existing policy has become outdated due to the rapid pace of technological advancements and evolving societal demands.
With financial backing from UNESCO and the European Union, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture is spearheading efforts to update the policy, ensuring it aligns with current 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 comprehensive stakeholder involvement, the Ministry hosted a validation workshop at the Accra International Conference Centre on Tuesday, August 13, 2024.
The event brought together key players from the creative industries, civil society, academia, and traditional authorities to review and provide feedback on the draft policy.
The workshop was attended by Mr. H.E. Edward Mukala, UNESCO Country Representative; Ms. Margo Pitura, European Union Representative; and representatives from the embassies of Spain, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as Deputy Minister for Creative Arts, Mark Okraku Mantey.
Key objectives of the new policy include:
I. Prioritize the protection, conservation and promotion of Ghana’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
II. 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.
IV. Facilitate cultural exchange programs, collaborations and partnerships with other nations.
V. Enhance indigenous technology promotion of traditional medicine.
VI. 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.
Source: Adomonline