The Ghana Culture Forum (GCF), as a prominent civil society organisation and representative body for culture and creative sector organisations, practitioners, and advocates, extends its sincere congratulations to President John Dramani Mahama on his recent inauguration as the 6th President of the 4th Republic of Ghana.
We have carefully observed your comprehensive plans for the culture and creative sector, particularly through the Black Star Experience initiative. As committed stakeholders in the culture and creative sector, we believe that the integration of culture into the national development agenda is essential for building a resilient and thriving nation. In this spirit, the Ghana Culture Forum supports the objectives of the Black Star Experience and looks forward to collaborate with relevant state entities to enhance the prospects of our sector.
As you move forward with the important task of appointing Ministers to lead various ministries, the Ghana Culture Forum kindly requests that you consider appointing an individual who possesses a profound of understanding our sector, exhibits the appropriate temperament, and demonstrates strong business acumen, along with a notable spirit of collaboration to guide the culture and creative sector agenda effectively. We have full confidence in your ability to select an individual who will be a suitable fit for our sector. We commit ourselves to working with your nominee to achieve our shared aspirations as a nation.
Additionally, the Ghana Culture Forum welcomes the opportunity to recommend that your administration gives attention to the following key concerns that have emerged from our extensive stakeholder engagements within the culture and creative sector:
- i. Establish and clearly define a comprehensive framework for the culture and creative sector while empowering relevant state institutions for effective management. The existing structure have agencies duplicating roles without clarity which agency is leading and which agencies are playing supporting roles.
- ii. Conduct a thorough audit of existing legislation and legal frameworks governing the culture and creative sector to ensure alignment and coherence with the established framework.
- iii. Undertake consistent and comprehensive research and data collection to accurately assess the economic contributions of the culture and creative sector to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and to compile a comprehensive inventory of cultural production units across the country.
In light of your commitment to convening national stakeholder conferences for other sectors, we believe that it would be equally beneficial to hold a dedicated forum for the culture and creative sector. This gathering would facilitate the development of a cohesive roadmap and actionable work plan for all stakeholders, encompassing both government and private sector actors.The Ghana Culture Forum stands ready to provide its full support to the government in organising this important national conference.
For the Ghana Culture Forum, the promotion of culture is paramount. As you guide our nation toward socio-economic progress, we wish to underscore the tremendous potential that Ghana possesses for regional and global prominence through the effective utilisation of our rich cultural capital. We encourage you to prioritise the development of our cultural sector for the collective benefit of our communities, ensuring that it receives the attention it deserves alongside other national priorities.
Long live Ghana! Forward with the agenda of developing the culture and creative sector of our dear country!
EDWINA ASSAN
GENERAL SECRETARY