Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, has revealed that she was more thrilled about the government’s steps to track the creative sector’s economic impact than the GH₵ 40 million allocation outlined in the 2026 budget.
Speaking on Starr Showbiz with Feeling Daddy on Starr 103.5 FM on Saturday, November 15, 2025, the minister highlighted the importance of data in advocating for the creative industries.
“Interestingly, I was more excited about the fact that there are steps to ensure that we have data that tells exactly how much we contribute to the GDP of this country. When that is done, I think we’ll be better placed to demand and receive more attention than we have,” she said.
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She also pointed to initiatives such as the tourism satellite account and ongoing efforts to operationalise the UNESCO 2030 culture indicators, noting that these would provide critical insights into the sector’s contributions.
“For me, the smile was what I was reading on that… the satellite account, tourism satellite account, and also the fact that there is already a conversation between the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts with the statistics people to ensure that the UNESCO 2030 culture indicators are operationalised. That also, for the cultural space, will determine what we bring to the table,” she added.
Gomashie said the combination of the allocated funds and the strengthened data collection would put the ministry in a better position to advocate for increased resources in future budgets. “With those things in place, with those figures and data in place, I’m sure that we can get even more than the 20 million that he’s talking about,” she noted.
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The minister’s comments underscore a growing emphasis on using data to demonstrate the creative sector’s role as a key driver of economic development, beyond the headline figures in the budget.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
