By Hafsa Obeng, GNA
Accra, Oct. 3, GNA – Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, has called for collective responsibility to protect Ghana’s natural and cultural heritage, warning that failure to preserve the environment threatens the survival of present and future generations.
“If we stop preserving nature, we die. As we provide for the needs of the young today, we must think about their tomorrow”, she said.
The Minister made the remarks during an engagement with the Italian Ambassador to Ghana, Madam Laura Ranalli, on cultural cooperation and an initiative that uses art, creativity and community participation to promote environmental preservation, spirituality and cultural awareness.
Madam Gomashie expressed concern over the pollution of water bodies, indiscriminate disposal of waste, destruction of wetlands and the use of harmful chemicals in illegal mining, saying such practices were inconsistent with the responsibility of citizens to protect the earth.
She welcomed the initiative, describing creative arts as a valuable platform for promoting environmental consciousness, responsible citizenship and appreciation of nature.
The Minister called for stronger public advocacy against environmental destruction, noting that silence in the face of such activities could amount to silent participation in the damage being caused.
She also urged the organisers to incorporate educational programmes targeting children and young people from an early age to nurture a culture of environmental responsibility.
Madam Gomashie further stressed the need for Ghana to translate its commitments to protecting tangible and intangible cultural heritage into practical action, rather than allowing preservation efforts to remain at the level of policies and international conventions.
She commended the Italian President and Government for their support for the initiative, saying international partnerships and creative expression could contribute meaningfully to heritage preservation and the promotion of sustainable communities.
The engagement also explored opportunities for further collaboration with LUMSA University in Rome, a private institution affiliated with the Vatican, which offers programmes in theology, political science and other disciplines and has expressed interest in undertaking additional projects in Ghana.
Ambassador Ranalli described the bilateral relations between Ghana and Italy as excellent, saying Ghana became a priority country for Italy’s development cooperation in 2024 and was subsequently included in Italy’s Plan for Africa.
She said the development cooperation created opportunities for collaboration in areas including agriculture, education, health, fisheries and digitalisation.
The Ambassador highlighted an agricultural project in the Volta Region being undertaken by an Italian company, with a target of developing 10,000 hectares of farmland.
She said about 5,000 hectares had so far been developed, alongside complementary social sector initiatives.
She also cited professional exchanges in the fisheries sector, where officials from Ghana’s Ministry of Fisheries regularly visit Italy to strengthen cooperation and share expertise.
Although Italy’s development cooperation with Ghana focused largely on other priority sectors, she said cultural cooperation remained an important component of the relationship.
Ambassador Ranalli said in April, two directors of the National Commission on Culture, including regional directors from Tamale and Cape Coast, participated in a month-long cultural heritage training programme in Italy.
The programme included a week of specialised training in Rome at a cultural heritage preservation school, which organised the course for 50 cultural officers from across Africa.
The Ambassador also highlighted a partnership between the southern Italian region of Basilicata and Ghanaian non-governmental organisation, Art Life Matters, led by Eric Ajale, focusing on preserving intangible cultural heritage through artistic expression, community participation and documentation.
She said the collaboration reflected the shared commitment of Ghana and Italy to using cultural exchange, capacity building and the creative arts to safeguard heritage and promote sustainable development.
GNA
Reporter: Hafsa Obeng
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