Ghana’s Revised National Cultural Policy serves as a comprehensive roadmap for protecting, promoting and preserving the nation’s cultural heritage while bolstering the country’s cultural and creative industries, Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has said, noting its potential to drive economic growth and social transformation.
Launching the policy at the National Theatre in Accra on Tuesday, the Vice President said the revised framework positions culture as a strategic tool for national development and aligns with both the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2030.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang noted that the policy seeks to harness Ghana’s rich cultural assets to drive economic empowerment, create jobs, preserve heritage and strengthen national identity while leveraging emerging opportunities in the creative economy.
She emphasised that culture must be recognized not only as a reflection of identity but also as a powerful driver of development, capable of promoting social cohesion, innovation and sustainable growth.
The Vice President described the policy as a critical instrument for advancing Ghana’s cultural agenda and highlighted recent achievements, including the recognition of Kente as a Geographical Indication and the inscription of Highlife Music on the international heritage register.
The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, said the revised policy was the result of years of extensive consultations involving academics, artists, community leaders, women, young people, religious groups and cultural practitioners.
According to the Minister, the policy marks a significant shift in the perception of culture from a largely social and anthropological concept to a strategic sector capable of driving socio-economic development.
She explained that the policy will support access to finance for creative entrepreneurs, promote the establishment of creative hubs, encourage investment in Ghanaian cultural products and strengthen the integration of culture into national development and trade frameworks.
Gomashie further stressed that cultural activities such as festivals, marriage ceremonies and traditional rites generate substantial economic opportunities and support livelihoods across sectors including fashion, catering, transportation, photography, media, music and crafts.
Goodwill messages were delivered by representatives of the European Union (EU) and UNESCO, to reaffirm their commitment to supporting Ghana’s efforts to preserve, promote, and leverage its rich cultural heritage as a catalyst for national development.
The Chairperson of the Technical Committee for the Review of the Policy, Professor Esi Sutherland-Addy, presented the key highlights and implementation roadmap of the Revised National Cultural Policy. She emphasised the critical role of culture in national development and stressed the need for its effective integration into governance, policy formulation, and development planning to ensure sustainable growth and social cohesion.
The launch of the Revised National Cultural Policy signals Ghana’s renewed commitment to leveraging culture as a strategic pillar for sustainable development, heritage preservation, economic empowerment and global cultural engagement.
