Ghana and the Republic of Korea are deepening cooperation in tourism, culture and the creative arts under a five-year partnership backed by approximately US$4.5 million in financial support, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has disclosed.
The Minister said the partnership presents a major opportunity for Ghana to strengthen institutional capacity, improve professional expertise and deepen collaboration across the tourism, culture and creative arts sectors.
Gomashie made the disclosure during an engagement with a visiting delegation from the Korean National Commission for UNESCO, led by Jinsung Jeon.
She expressed appreciation to the Government and people of Korea for the financial and technical assistance provided to Ghana, describing the partnership as one of the significant developments supporting the Ministry’s work.
The Minister also commended the Korean Government for facilitating professional training for Ghanaian officials and participants from other African countries, following a recent visit by a Ghanaian delegation to Korea.
She particularly highlighted a training programme for heritage site managers that concluded about two weeks ago, describing it as an important intervention in strengthening the professional management, preservation and presentation of Ghana’s heritage sites.
According to her, the knowledge and practical experience gained by participants would contribute to improving the management of heritage sites and enhancing their appeal to both domestic and international visitors.
Gomashie said the recent exchanges with Korea and the training programmes were among the most positive developments for the Ministry in recent months, but stressed the need to translate the experience gained into lasting institutional and professional capacity.
She noted that the Korea-Ghana partnership had also featured prominently in her recent presentation at the Presidency as part of the “Meet the Press Series”, where she outlined the Ministry’s mandate, activities and achievements since assuming office.
“The level of support from Korea demonstrates the strength of the relationship between our two countries, and it is a commitment that Ghana does not take for granted,” she said.
The Minister, on behalf of the President and people of Ghana, thanked the Government and people of Korea for their friendship and continued support for Ghana’s development.
Beyond financial and technical assistance, Gomashie called for greater emphasis on cultural exchange as part of the bilateral relationship.
She said Ghana could learn from Korea’s culture, values, discipline and work ethic, while Korea could equally benefit from Ghana’s rich cultural heritage, traditions and creative expressions.
She cited punctuality and respect for time as examples of Korean cultural values that could offer useful lessons for Ghana, stressing that national development depended not only on financial resources and technical expertise but also on discipline, attitudes and a commitment to excellence.
“Learning does not only take place in formal classrooms,” she said, encouraging the Korean delegation to share aspects of Korean culture and societal practices that have contributed to the country’s development.
Gomashie reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to ensuring that the five-year cooperation delivers tangible and sustainable outcomes for the tourism, culture and creative arts sector and contributes to the wider national economy.
The Korean delegation, led by Mr. Jinsung Jeon of the Korean National Commission for UNESCO, expressed appreciation for the warm reception accorded them in Ghana and thanked the Minister for the cordial engagement.
The partnership forms part of Ghana’s broader efforts to strengthen international cooperation and leverage strategic partnerships to build capacity, preserve cultural heritage and expand opportunities within the tourism and creative economy.
