A few months after highlighting over twenty policy ideas for Ghana’s tourism, arts and culture, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has officially launched the party’s projections for the sector in its 2024 manifesto.

The manifesto which was launched in Winneba on August 24, 2024 details some of the promises made by the Presidential Candidate for the NDC, John Dramani Mahama.

According to their manifesto, the next NDC Government intends to do the following for the creative economy:

Culture, Arts, and Tourism Economy – The Black Star Experience

The next NDC Government will create and promote ‘The Black Star Experience’ as Ghana’s flagship Culture, Arts, and Tourism brand to redefine and affirm our Ghanaian identity, attract investments, create new jobs, and increase tourism. The Black Star Experience will undertake a year-round celebration in all the major entertainment, artistic, and educational disciplines to include the celebration of the following:

The Pan African Month, Celebrating Heritage, History, and Diaspora Engagement The Ghana Film, Festival and Awards Month

Ghana Music World Culinary Month

Architecture, Design, Arts and Crafts Fashion and Textiles Month Literacy/Literary Month

To this end, we will:

(1) partner with MMDAs to institute creative festivals in honour of Ghanaian legends, for recognition, celebration, and inspiration;

(2) introduce well-calendared Black Star Experience to inform planning and participation; and

(3) encourage community-based cultural programming and participatory planning to foster

ownership and sustainability of cultural initiatives.

Harnessing Culture for Economic Growth

(1) revive the Creative Arts Fund to provide sustainable financial support for start-ups, and for ailing large, medium and small creative enterprises;

(2) introduce the concept of "Cultural Villages" to showcase Ghana's diverse culture and boost domestic arts and tourism;

(3) support the commercialization of cultural and artistic goods and services by facilitating financial literacy education among industry players;

(4) use digitalized experiences including virtual reality versions of museums, galleries, memory spaces, and creative contents, to present Ghanaian culture, heritage recreational experiences, and brands;

(5) invest in capacity building, education, training, and sensitization in the culture, arts, and tourism sector to empower young artists to contribute to the cultural and economic development of their communities;

(6) modernize existing Centres of National Culture into commercially viable performance spaces; and construct new ones in the new regions;

(7) facilitate partnerships with international cultural organizations to promote knowledge exchange, collaboration, and exposure to diverse artistic practices; and

(8) partner with chiefs and other traditional authorities to promote the commercialisation of heritage festivals.

Building a Thriving Creative Industry

The next NDC Government will:

(1) invest in supporting local content creation initiatives to drive job creation;

(2) review and strictly enforce broadcasting, digital media and local content provisions to stimulate local artistic productions;

(3) facilitate, enforce and enhance the collection and management system for copyrights and royalties in Ghana;

(4) partner with stakeholders in Ghana’s film industry to position it among the top three producers in Africa;

(5) partner with stakeholders in the Ghana music and dance industry to develop and market their craft;

(6) promote a culture of reading by partnering with tech start-ups to develop digital platforms that create content from Ghanaian publishers and writers to generate revenue for local authors;

(7) promote writing as a commercially viable art form in collaboration with the Ghana Association of Writers and other stakeholders;

(8) support young digital content creators to develop contents that promote Ghanaian culture;

(9) partner with the private sector to build an ultra-modern recreation village with auditoriums for films, musical concerts, and other stage performances;

(10) partner with digital platform developers to promote Ghanaian cultural centres, heritage products and events.

(11) We will commence plans to establish a film village, with equipment to be hired at low rates for film makers;

(12) We will rehabilitate the National Theatre in Accra and commence plans to build a second National Theatre in Kumasi;

(13) We will acquire a special event channel for the Creative Arts on a digital terrestrial television (DTT) and provide a technology that would make the channel " pay per view";

(14) Introduce tax breaks for Creative Arts artistes who have Tax Identification Numbers(TIN);

(15) Initiate plans for a new city on the banks of the Volta Region with facilities that will generate arts activities and boost tourism;

(16) Hold an annual Stakeholder Dialogue with arts culture and the creative industry; and

(17) Provide special rates for performances at the Blackstar Square, Accra International Conference Centre and other state owned venues by artistes.

Enhancing Tourism

The next NDC Government will:

(1) build a comprehensive real-time online database in collaboration with the GSS, GTA, GIS, Universities, and other stakeholders for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of tourism data;

(2) promote domestic tourism through awareness creation and the institutionalization of programmes and activities in partnership with relevant stakeholders;

(3) revive the abandoned Marine Drive project and initiate similar projects in other regions;

(4) review the utilization of the Tourism Development Levy to ensure an equitable, effective and efficient distribution to all sectors under CAT;

(5) review taxes and enhance incentives on hospitality and other services within the CAT sector to make Ghana a competitive tourism destination;

(6) partner with stakeholders to diversify tourism offerings to include medical tourism, educational tourism, religious tourism, culinary tourism, agro-tourism, cultural tourism, and sports tourism, among others;

(7) create career security for the talent in the industry through legal and financial protections and a mass pension mobilization scheme;

(8) refurbish Ghana’s popularised cultural and heritage sites, monuments, and infrastructure, and identify potential attractions for development;

(9) develop the creative potential of People Living with Disabilities (PWDs) to effectively and efficiently participate and pursue careers in CAT industries;

(10) facilitate investments in the development of tourist facilities and services to cater for the needs of

(11) promote local cuisines on the menus of hotels and other tourist facilities in Ghana;

(12) define a legal and ethical framework with adequate and appropriate provisions towards orientation for Diaspora Africans who wish to relocate to Ghana;

(13) promote insurance uptake for creatives by facilitating tailored insurance product; and

(14) collaborate with other stakeholders to promote Ghana's tourism, arts, and cultural goods and services in diplomatic missions abroad to promote Ghanaian culture.

In the meantime, Joy FM is preparing to hold the CREATIVE MANIFESTO ON CREATIVE ECONOMY for the NDC and the NPP to deliberate on their various manifesto promises and ideas for Ghana’s tourism, arts and culture.

The event which will be live on Joy FM and Joy Prime, is scheduled for September 14, 2024.