The Ghana Culture Forum through its newly elected Functional Executive Committee has paid a courtesy call on the Ghana Tourism Authority at the offices of the latter in Accra. The meeting which took place last Monday, 8th May 2023, was held to introduce the newly elected members of the executive body of GCF to GTA.
At the meeting Nana Otuo Owoahene Acheampong (Chairperson, GCF) briefed Mr Akwasi Agyeman (CEO, GTA) and Mr Ekow Sampson (Deputy CEO in charge of Operations) about GCF’s work within Ghana’s culture and creative space. He indicated that GCF has seen to some of the developments within the cultural and creative space since its formation in 2012. Noteworthy amongst them includes GCF’s active participation in the processes leading to the ratification of UNESCO conventions (2003 and 2005), Film Act 935, Creative Arts Industry Act 1048, cultural policy review processes, national development policy frameworks etc.
Nana added that the GCF has instituted the Ghana Culture Day which is celebrated every March 14. He noted that the 2022 and 2023 editions saw the introduction of an Interschool Debate to the series of activities that marked the Ghana Culture Day celebration. This was geared towards getting the youth actively involved with the celebration. The two debates have been won by Accra Girls SHS and St Thomas Aquinas SHS in 2022 and 2023 respectively.
Nana notified GTA of GCF’s intention to partner them for the subsequent Ghana Culture Day celebrations. The news of partnership was well received by GTA. Mr Akwasi Agyemang hinted that he was very much conversant with GCF’s work in the culture and creative space and hence pleased to collaborate on a series of mutually beneficial activities and projects. He noted that the seemingly lack of synergy between the many stakeholders (government and civil society) has poorly played out on the efficiency of the development machinery. He added that this phenomenon was not only peculiar to the culture and creative sector but to many other sectors of the Ghanaian economy. Having said that, he expressed the intentions of his administration to lead in that direction. To this end, he proposed a strategic meeting (in June 2023) between GTA and GCF in quest to get acquainted to each other’s programming so as to draw connective lines and linkages towards collaboration.
