The Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture (MOTAC) and the 2004 Ghana Culture Policy Review Committee have presented the final policy draft to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture in Accra.
The meeting took place at the Central Hotel in Ridge, Accra. Distinguished policymakers in attendance included the Chieftaincy Minister, Hon. Stephen Asamoah Boateng, and the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts, Mark Okraku-Mantey.
Discussions centred around various key topics, including Culture and Nature, Human Settlements and Cultural Monuments, Oral Traditions, Cultural Education and Awareness, Development of Ghanaian Languages, and Culture in the Public and Social Media.
In an interview with Citi TV, the caretaker Minister for Arts, Tourism, and Culture, Hon. Stephen Asamoah Boateng, who also serves as the Chieftaincy Minister highlighted the crucial nature of convening such discussions and underscored their importance.
“Today, we’ve made a significant decision by convening the committee responsible for revising the country’s cultural policy. This marks a crucial review of our longstanding cultural framework, which has remained largely unchanged for about 20 years.
One of the pivotal aspects we addressed in today’s discussions was technology. We explored strategies to enhance our technological infrastructure, ensure its safety, and promote knowledge sharing to benefit others. This was a key issue we delved into.”
The Chairman of the Review Committee Nana Kwesi Gyan-Apenteng said the Ghana Culture Policy had been in existence for the past 20 years and the committee as part of its mandate was tasked to review the policy to confirm current trends.
According to him, since the Policy was formulated many things have happened, especially in the area of technology, and the development of the Ghanaian culture
The new policy is expected to be finalized in May/June.