By: Sheila WILLIAMS
The Government of Ghana has announced the beginning of feasibility studies for the creation of a Creative Arts Fund in order to support the creative arts industry of Ghana.
“Government will continue with its good initiatives to improve the Creative Arts sector with the establishment of a fully functional Creative Arts Secretariat and the commencement of feasibility studies to set up a Creative Arts Fund.”
This was revealed during the presentation of the 2018 budget statement and economic policy to Parliament by the Finance Minister, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta last Wednesday.
The Minister added, “See Ghana, Eat Ghana, Wear Ghana and Feel Ghana’ programme, which was launched this year, will continue in 2018.
“This programme is aimed at boosting the local economy and also to enable Ghanaians appreciate “their heritage”, he added.
A gastronomic festival, according to the 2018 budget, will be organized to showcase Ghanaian foods and recipes through cooking competitions throughout the country as part of efforts to promote the local Ghanaian cuisine to the foreigners.
Mr Ofori-Atta’s speech to Parliament, however, did not disclose how much has been allocated for the Fund as well as what the Creative Arts sector in general would take, in terms of figures with many believing that the figures may be contained in the full budget statement.
Below are the key interventions announced in the Budget for the Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts sector:
- Tourism research and marketing programme: to boost the local economy and to enable Ghanaians appreciate their heritage, the ‘See Ghana, eat Ghana, wear Ghana and feel Ghana’ programme was launched this year and will continue in 2018. A gastronomic festival will be organised to showcase Ghanaian foods and recipes through cooking competitions throughout the country as part of efforts to promote the local Ghanaian cuisine.
- Governement will continue its initiatives to improve the creative arts sector with the establishment of a fully functional creative arts secretariat and the commencement of feasibility studies to set up a creative arts fund.
- The ministry will also use international tourism, arts and culture fairs and fora and a single window portal to promote tourism and investment in ghana.
