The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has called for renewed efforts to preserve Ghanaian culture and promote indigenous languages, describing language as a key vehicle for transmitting cultural heritage to future generations.
Speaking during an engagement with the Centre for National Culture (CNC) in the Bono East Region, the Minister urged Ghanaians to actively speak, teach and promote indigenous languages, particularly among children and young people.
She said preserving Ghana’s cultural identity must go beyond festivals and traditional ceremonies, stressing the need to make indigenous languages and cultural practices part of everyday life.
The Minister also called for a reset of the Centre for National Culture through improved working conditions, better facilities and stronger institutional support for creative practitioners.
She said the Ministry would engage relevant stakeholders on the regularisation of long-serving voluntary workers at the CNC, while exploring ways to support the development of untapped tourism attractions across the region.
Ms Gomashie further advocated greater recognition of dance, drama and other creative disciplines as professional careers, noting their potential to create employment and generate sustainable income for practitioners.
Her engagement formed part of a three-day familiarisation tour of tourism, cultural and creative arts sites and institutions in the Bono and Bono East regions.
Earlier in the tour, the Minister paid a courtesy call on the Bono Regional Minister, Joseph Addae Akwaboa, at the Regional Coordinating Council, where discussions focused on challenges and opportunities within the sector.
Among the issues raised were concerns over the encroachment and alleged disposal of portions of Centre for National Culture lands.
Ms Gomashie called for improved management of public cultural assets and urged authorities to pursue the completion of the theatre project and development of the craft village to create jobs and empower young creatives.
She also stressed the need for stronger digital marketing strategies and collaboration among stakeholders to increase the visibility and economic value of Ghana’s cultural and tourism assets.
The familiarisation tour is expected to help the Ministry assess selected tourism, cultural and creative assets and identify practical interventions to unlock their potential.
