British Council Engages Ghana’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts on Strategic Cultural Collaboration

IMG_2415-1024×682 British Council Engages Ghana’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts on Strategic Cultural Collaboration
The British Council, led by International Development Expert Nii Doodo Dodoo, has paid a working visit to Ghana’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts to explore potential areas of collaboration aimed at promoting Ghana’s rich cultural heritage and boosting its creative economy.

The visit facilitated high-level discussions focused on strengthening the creative arts sector and leveraging tourism as a key driver of national economic development.

Welcoming the delegation, the Honourable Minister, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, expressed deep appreciation for the British Council’s longstanding support for arts and culture in Ghana. She highlighted the urgent need for investment in underfunded but high-potential areas such as gastronomy, traditional crafts, dance, and painting.

“Ghana is not short of talent,” the Minister emphasized, “but we need the right training and systems to position our creatives as globally competitive and commercially viable.” She further stressed the importance of professionalizing and educating tour guides to accurately and compellingly communicate Ghana’s history, culture, and identity to both local and international visitors.

Reflecting on his personal ties to Ghana’s tourism industry, Mr. Dodoo described the visit as a “homecoming,” recalling his formative years working as a tour guide in Ghana. He noted that the British Council has been active in Ghana for over eight decades, significantly contributing to the growth of the arts and cultural landscape.

One focal point of the discussions was the British Council’s interest in the “Black Star Experience” initiative—a concept seen as a powerful platform for shaping and promoting Ghana’s cultural narrative on the global stage.

“In the UK, tourism contributes nearly £16 billion to the economy annually and supports over a million jobs,” Mr. Dodoo stated. “There are valuable lessons Ghana can draw from this model to expand its tourism and creative sectors.”

Both parties underscored the importance of equipping young creatives with entrepreneurial skills to help them monetize their talents sustainably. The British Council reaffirmed its commitment to deepening cultural exchange and fostering impactful partnerships to advance Ghana’s creative economy.

The Honourable Minister also called for consistency and quality in Ghana’s cultural products, citing a personal anecdote: “Carvings I traded in the 1980s are still intact, while newer gifts from other countries have deteriorated. Policy must help recondition mindsets and enforce standards in our artistic outputs.”

The engagement marks a significant step toward building robust, mutually beneficial partnerships that will propel the growth and global competitiveness of Ghana’s tourism, culture, and creative arts sectors.

Source: Public Relations Unit, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts (MoTCCA)