Tuesday, November 21, 2023, saw a stakeholder consultation at the Coconut Grove Regency Hotel in Accra to talk about the new draft Cultural Policy, which was created by a group of twenty people and launched at the Central Hotel in Accra on August 22, 2023.
The Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Hon. Mark Okraku Mantey, emphasized in his keynote speech the importance of educating our kids about our culture so they won't grow up unaware of it.
He asserts that culture has a significant influence on our identity, solidarity, and the advancement of our country.
Speaking at the gathering, he expressed that he considered it an honor to be included in the process of starting a journey of introspection and rejuvenation, a journey that could influence the cultural fabric of our wonderful country, Ghana.
In order to ensure that our culture is preserved and relevant for future generations, he stated that it is our responsibility as a Ministry to assist in preserving and celebrating it.
According to him, the 2004 Cultural Policy established the groundwork for the preservation and advancement of our cultural legacy. But just as the times have changed, so too have the opportunities and difficulties we face. Therefore, in order to meet the changing and dynamic demands of society, we must evaluate, improve, and adjust our cultural policy.
He urged everyone to view the consultation as evidence of the Ministry's dedication to inclusiveness, teamwork, and participatory governance rather than as a pointless formality.
He saw everyone's attendance at the gathering as a proof of their commitment to Ghana's cultural development. He claims that the opinions, experiences, and ideas are priceless and will work together to create a vision that will direct our culture policy going forward.
He emphasized that we should be proud of our cultural history and draw inspiration from it. Our goal with this new strategy should be to support the cultural sector and make sure it continues to be a source of innovation, inspiration, and economic growth.
While doing this, we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that culture promotes social cohesiveness and national unity. He emphasized that in a diverse society, our cultural policies should serve as platforms for inclusivity, honoring and appreciating the richness of individual differences. In order to promote harmony and understanding among the disparate segments of our society, we must use culture as a bridge.
He asked everyone in attendance to actively participate in the talks that will take place in the coming days by offering creative ideas, expressing concerns, and sharing personal experiences. He sees it as a chance for us to influence how Ghana's cultural landscape develops in the future.
He concluded by thanking the Chief Director, his staff, the Review Committee, and all the stakeholders who have contributed to this vital initiative.
He added that by working together, we may create a cultural tapestry that captures the diversity and ambitions of the Ghanaian people, serving as a symbol of our shared history and our shared quest for a better future. In discussing the Culture Policy, the recently appointed UNESCO Country Representative for Ghana, Mr. Edward Moukala, stated that prioritizing government policies is the only option to achieve a sustainable future, considering the interconnection of the world's problems today. He claims that policies uphold plurality, respect for human rights, and address the goals of many people. Culture has a transversal and important role in all spheres of development, providing the numerous resources needed to respond and adapt to the difficulties encountered by public policy.
The goal of all public policy now must be to achieve a more sustainable future due to the magnitude and interconnection of the world's current difficulties. Public policy must guarantee pluralism and respect for fundamental rights while also catering to the demands of varied communities in increasingly divided societies. Culture plays a transversal and effective role in all aspects of public policy, offering limitless resources for responding and adapting to development difficulties. For communities and peoples, culture is a source of identity and unity. It is their shared recollection. National identity is gradually established by it in the political, diplomatic, and economic spheres. It fosters the creation of pluralistic, open, inclusive, and resilient societies by fostering innovation.
Apart from being a separate policy domain, culture encompasses a wide range of public policies and serves as a driving force behind the realization of diverse development viewpoints. Communities can benefit greatly from initiatives such as sustainable and inclusive development, addressing climate change, providing high-quality education to all students, engaging civil society, promoting social justice and strategic alliances, and integrating culture into policies, plans, strategies, development programs, projects, and procedures.
This is the reason that UNESCO, in conjunction with the United Nations, through the 2030 Agenda of 17 Sustainable Development Goals and its 169 target cultural conventions, offers a strong framework for cross-national cultural cooperation and diplomacy to aid in the implementation of the agenda.
He asserts that people's dedication to and desire for defending their culture are influenced by their favorable opinions of the past as well as the importance and value of their culture, which is based on language and history.
Therefore, in order for us to attain our culture's maximum efficacy, we must eliminate all falsifications, distortions, and prejudiced interpretations about it that the white people have previously presented to us. We also need to reinvest in a new strategic vision.
This means that in addition to using colonial languages, we also need to use our mother tongues, and the educational system needs to use endogenous knowledge and skills in addition to other knowledge.
He argued that funding for the creation of cultural policies should be allotted 1% of the federal budget.
Once again, he said that the following tactics should be used to advance our culture:
• Funding essential cultural infrastructure and the cultural economy
• Education for youth and cultural performers
• The shift to digital media and the arts, culture, and legacy
• Encourage cultural events through advocacy.
Mr. Moukala made a request for assistance from all parties involved as well as from sub-regional, regional, and interregional organizations, such as development banks.
He argues that in order to tackle the difficulties of our day and combat the effects of poverty, inequality (the digital divide), emergencies, and increasingly complicated conflicts, it is essential to preserve and maintain cultural heritage and foster creativity.
According to him, UNESCO is persuaded that no growth can be sustained without a strong cultural component and that the only way to achieve long-lasting peace is through a human-centered approach to development that is founded on respect for one another and open communication between cultures.
He stressed the value of culture in the process of development and the necessity of a heritage law that is founded on a revised cultural policy.
According to architect Derban, a key component of the new culture policy ought to be architecture. He praised the government for setting the example by enticing architects to include indigenous concepts in the construction of communities, public buildings, and structures utilizing cultural expressions through workshops and seminars.
He claimed that Accra has begun to show signs of incorporating cultural expressions into newly constructed modern buildings, citing the World Bank building, the CAL Bank Headquarters, the National Theatre of Ghana, Ridge Towers, Jubilee House, and others that were constructed using adinkra symbols for excellence in their designs.
Not just in Ghana is it becoming more and more usual to design structures utilizing African symbols. Other nations have also managed to incorporate their symbols onto legally-mandated monuments and buildings.
He believed that the establishment of a national museum dedicated to cinemas and films would demonstrate the significance of enacting legislation protecting cultural assets. He made the case for the necessity of traditional symbols and a national heritage list as tools to turn around our nation. He emphasized how important it is that architects be included on the UNESCO list of these landmarks and historic structures. Due to urbanization and civilization, there is a propensity for using building materials from other countries, which is causing the symbols to disappear.
Additionally, according to architect Derban, family houses that have been important to our country's history but are increasingly disappearing must be maintained to tell their story. To keep them from going to waste, they must undergo preservation and restoration processes and be supported by legislation.
These were messages of solidarity from Mr. Irchad Razaaly, the EU Ambassador to Ghana, who was read aloud by Ms. Margo Pitura, and Mrs. Ama Serwa Nerquaye-Tetteh, the Secretary General of the UNESCO Ghana National Commission, who was read aloud by Mr. Chris Wetcher. The messages conveyed gratitude, hope, and a readiness to help the Ministry.
Nana Akwasi The chairman of the Culture Policy Review Committee, Gyan Apenteng, showed the participants the draft document in order to solicit their feedback.