By Hafsa Obeng
Accra, Aug. 11, GNA – The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts has advanced initiatives to promote Ghanaian cuisine, strengthen creative businesses and improve tourism data.
The measures include GH¢5 million each for the Creative Arts Fund and Film Development Fund, promotion of local cuisine and efforts to expand Ghanaian cultural products on international markets.
Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, said the initiatives formed part of government efforts to create jobs, promote economic growth and preserve Ghana’s national identity when she addressed the Government Accountability Series in Accra on Monday.
She said the Ministry had introduced AfroGastro, a flagship culinary arts festival aimed at promoting Ghanaian culinary arts and traditions.
It had also partnered the Chefs Association of Ghana to promote local cuisines on the menus of hotels and other tourist facilities across the country.
On the creative arts sector, Madam Gomashie said GH¢5 million had been released to revive the Creative Arts Fund to provide sustainable financial support for start-ups and ailing large, medium and small creative businesses.
The Legislative Instrument (LI) to operationalise the fund would soon be presented to Parliament, she said.
Madam Gomashie said that another GH¢5 million had been released for the establishment of the Film Development Fund, with the LI to operationalise the fund also expected to be passed by Parliament.
She said plans to rehabilitate the National Theatre in Accra and commence the process of building a second National Theatre in Kumasi were far advanced.
“Major administrative requirements have been completed. The Ministry is in touch with the Regional Minister for land acquisition and before we trigger major steps,” she said.
On tourism data, Madam Gomashie said the Ministry had introduced the Ghana Tourism Marketplace (GTM) and Ghana Tourism Investment Platform (GTiP), while work was ongoing to establish a Tourism Satellite Account.
She said domestic tourism grew by more than seven per cent in 2025.
The Minister said the Ministry had also constituted a new board, Accra Marine Development Limited (AMDEL), and a steering committee to revive the abandoned Marine Drive project, with engagements ongoing with potential investors and partners.
She said digital initiatives, including the Ghana-EU Sankofa project and Korea-Ghana Heritage Project, were being implemented to provide virtual experiences of museums, galleries, memory spaces and other cultural content.
Madam Gomashie said engagements had started with the Film Producers Association of Ghana and other stakeholders to develop a roadmap for supporting local content creation and job creation.
On tax incentives for creatives, she said about 60 per cent of engagements with the Ghana Revenue Authority had been completed, with efforts being expedited to conclude the process.
She said consultations had begun with the Ministry’s legal adviser on reviewing the utilisation of the Tourism Development Levy to ensure its equitable, effective and efficient distribution across the sector.
Madam Gomashie said the Ministry was collaborating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other stakeholders to promote Ghana’s tourism, arts and cultural goods and services through diplomatic missions abroad.
She cited participation in ECOFEST and partnerships for festivals in Zambia, Kenya, Serbia, India and the United Kingdom, with South Korea expected to host a similar engagement in September-October.
Madam Gomashie said tourism, culture and the creative arts were “no longer future promises” but present contributors to jobs, revenue and national identity.
“Together, we are positioning Ghana as a place to visit, a place to experience, invest in, and belong to,” she said.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Reporter: Hafsa Obeng