Accra: Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang on Tuesday called for stronger stakeholder collaboration to help tap the full potential of Ghana's culture and creativity industry for national development. Speaking at the launch of the Revised Cultural Policy of Ghana in Accra, she noted that the nation must rely on its cultural and creative strength to create jobs and drive inclusive economic growth.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Vice President emphasized the importance of building a nation that draws strength from its heritage, creates opportunities through innovation, and projects its voice with confidence and influence on the world stage. She urged governments, traditional authorities, religious bodies, the youth, and the diaspora to lead the agenda, highlighting achievements such as the recognition of Ghana's Kente and Highlife on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Prof. Opoku-Agyemang stressed the indispensable nature of history in a nation's identity and future.
The Vice President encouraged citizens to learn additional local languages to promote social cohesion and to use technology to digitize indigenous culture and amplify the reach of artists. She expressed confidence that the revised policy document would strengthen cultural cohesion and help promote and preserve the country's indigenous culture.
The Ghana Culture Policy aims to strengthen Ghana's cultural identity and sovereignty, ensure culture informs all government policies and actions, and promote collaboration across sectors and stakeholders. It recognizes culture as the foundation of national identity and development, emphasizing that Ghana's rich cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible, should be a source of pride and a key driver of economic growth, social cohesion, and sustainable development.
Madam Ablah Dzifa Gomashie, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, underscored the need to harness the economic potentials embedded in Ghana's culture and traditions. She noted that the policy document was developed after broad consultations and highlighted its potential to promote entrepreneurship and create sustainable economic opportunities.
The Minister urged businesses to invest in arts and culture while academic institutions, the media, and the youth should promote positive cultural narratives with digital skills. She announced the completion of work on the UNESCO Cultural Indicator Framework, which will measure the impact of culture on economic growth and support evidence-based policy-making.
Representatives of UNESCO, the European Union (EU), and other partners pledged their support towards the implementation of the Cultural Policy. Mr. Rune Skinnebach, European Union Ambassador to Ghana, and Mr. Edmond Moukala, UNESCO Representative in Ghana, emphasized the importance of investing in culture as it creates employment and economic opportunities, and they described the document as Ghana's strategic commitment to making culture an integral part of national development.