The Deputy Director, National Commission on Culture, Dr. Richardson Fio Commey, is urging stakeholders to fully participate in the National Culture Policy review engagements being undertaken by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture in the regions.
He said culture has an impact on identity and national development, for which reason it must be preserved at all times.
Ghana is known for its diverse cultural tapestry, encompassing a multitude of ethnic groups, languages, art forms, music, dance, literature and traditional practices.
In May 2023, the Ministry of Tourism received funding support from UNESCO and the European Union (EU) to revise the Ghana’s existing 2004 Culture policy which served as a guideline to cultural activities to accommodate modern development trends and digital revolution in the country.
Given the above, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture embarked on stakeholder consultations with industry players, MDAs, Civil Society groups, Academia, NGOs, Religious Institutions, Media, and House of Chiefs in Tamale to gather inputs to enrich the National Culture Policy, make it representative and comprehensive.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Director, National Commission on Culture, Dr. Richardson Fio Commey, noted that the 2004 cultural policy has laid the foundation for the promotion and preservation of Ghana’s cultural heritage.
“It is imperative that the policy harnesses these invaluable asserts of the various ethnic groups and channel them into nation building efforts that benefits all Ghanaians.”
He emphasized that the 2004 Culture Policy, has set the foundation for the preservation of cultural heritage and called on stakeholders to devise measures to enhance the existing cultural policies to align with the dynamic needs of Ghanaian society because society has changed over time.
“There is the need to reinvest in new strategies and policies that would propagate culture in its very positive image”,
For her part, Programme Manager at European Union Delegation to Ghana, Margo Pitura reiterated that the European Union was happy to support Ghana in the promotion and preservation of Culture.
“The Ghanaian culture has been the pivot on which tourism thrives. The review of Ghana’s culture policy is a significant milestone as the country journey towards a sustainable development, economic empowerment and cultural preservation.”
We will continue to support initiatives aimed at reforming the cultural heritage of the people and I believe that with digitalization and skills development, we can achieve it.”
The workshop brought together stakeholders including representatives of the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MMDAs), media, academia as well as distinguished individuals from the creative arts industry in the Northern Region, to provide inputs to support the works of the Culture Policy Review Committee.