By Patrick Ofoe Nudzi, GNA
Accra, May 13, GNA – The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts (MoTCCA), in collaboration with its development partners, has reviewed findings from the pilot implementation of the Culture 2030 Indicators framework in Accra.
The UNESCO Culture 2030 Indicators comprise a framework of 22 thematic indicators designed to measure and monitor culture’s contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the national and local levels.
The validation workshop brought together local and international experts from the Ministry, the UNESCO, European Union, and tourism associations to assess Ghana’s progress, identify gaps requiring attention, reflect on findings, and explore the practical steps forward.
The indicators enable the governments and cities to evaluate culture’s impact on development across four key dimensions: environment and resilience, prosperity and livelihoods, knowledge and skills, as well as inclusion and participation.
Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, said the pilot implementation of the indicators had enabled Ghana to generate evidence-based insights to guide policy decisions.
She said the findings would pave the way for stronger institutional coordination, increased investment, and improved data systems to fully harness the potential of the country’s cultural and creative sectors.
“It will strengthen our development strategies and help us produce credible national and local cultural data on how much culture impacts our communities,” the Minister stated.
Madam Gomashie said the next phase of the validation process would focus on disseminating the findings and creating awareness of the project outcomes, while urging stakeholders to provide recommendations to support the effective integration of culture into Ghana’s development agenda.
Mr Edmond Moukala, the UNESCO Representative to Ghana, described the exercise as timely, especially as Ghana prepared to launch a new cultural policy, noting that the Culture 2030 Indicators provided a critical evidence base to support its implementation.
He said Ghana was among more than 25 countries and 25 cities globally implementing the indicators, adding that the data gathered would serve as an important resource for policy formulation, strategic investment, and informed decision-making.
“Your work at the urban level provides a blueprint for how cities can use cultural data to drive local inclusion and environmental stewardship. Today’s workshop marks a significant milestone and signals the beginning of a continuous process,” he said.
Mr Timothy Dolan, Team Lead for the Economic, Private Sector and Trade Section of the European Union, said the creative and cultural industries remained one of the world’s strongest drivers of development and, therefore, required robust policies and regulatory frameworks supported by reliable data.
“We all know the adage that if you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it. Evidence and data are important building blocks because they allow us to make informed decisions tailored to support cultural sectors,” he said.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: Patrick Ofoe NudziÂ
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