Stakeholder Consultation on the Review of Ghana’s 2004 Cultural Policy held with the Parliament Select Committee on Culture, Youth and Sports

A stakeholder consultation on the review of Ghana’s 2004 Cultural Policy with the Parliamentary Select Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture was held at the Central Hotel on Thursday, 29th February 2024.
The objective of the meeting was to discuss the revised draft policy document and solicit recommendations from members to further enrich the document and to meet the required processes for reviewing a national policy document.
Mr. John Yao Agbeko, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture welcomed the committee members to the meeting. He commended the work done by the Review Committee and thanked the select committee on Youth, Sports and Culture for their input.
The Hon Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Stephen Asamoah Boateng, who is currently the caretaker of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture said it is important that Ghana’s 2004 Culture Policy is reviewed to accommodate modern development trends. He said he was optimistic that the meeting would yield the anticipated results and ensure a diverse and comprehensive cultural policy document for the nation. He further advised the committee to improve the cultural policy to cover all aspects of Ghana’s culture and heritage.
Hon. Stephen Asamoah Boateng reiterated the fact that the Culture Policy Review Committee had done a great job and hoped that they would not relent until the job assigned to them was duly completed. He expressed his appreciation to the honourable members of the Select Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture for making time to review the revised draft Culture Policy.
The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Mark Okraku Mantey echoed the need to use technology to promote culture in the country.
Nana K. Gyan Apenteng, the Chairman of the Review Committee took honourable members from the select committee on Youth, Sports and Culture through a presentation on the drafted cultural policy.
Hon. Kwaku Agyenim-Boateng, the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture and MP for Brekum West Constituency said the consultative processes that have been adopted by the review team would help to address all the shortfalls in Ghana’s 2004 Culture Policy to ensure that the document achieved its set goals. He said the policy must have an impact on Ghanaians and added that it should be able to streamline the activities of traditional and popular culture.
The select committee members advocated for the need for the development of Ghanaian languages in our schools and for them to be officially recognised. Again, they recognised the need for the policy to outline ways in which the creative arts industry can be supported.
The committee members also recommended the need for a monitoring and an evaluation plan to monitor the implementation of the policy, by providing guidelines and options through the development of a Cabinet Memo, with the language being flexible, fluid, and progressive for the public to understand.
In conclusion, members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture advised the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to identify their role and be made accountable for the monitoring and evaluation process of the policy document.