Minister for Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has revealed ongoing efforts to secure international recognition for Ghana’s cultural heritage through the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Speaking on Starr Chat with Bola Ray on September 11, the minister said her ministry has taken deliberate steps to engage with UNESCO to protect and promote Ghana’s cultural assets.
“In JM 1, recognising that the global fund for the sector when you talk of culture will sit with UNESCO, we took steps to rectify the seven UNESCO conventions that affect our sector directly. I led the team to defend that in Parliament. So for that reason, we are able to write to UNESCO for support,” she explained.
Gomashie disclosed that she attended UNESCO’s most recent meeting in Paris, where she engaged with key leadership figures on issues affecting Ghana’s cultural and heritage landscape. She highlighted the progress already being made, citing the global recognition of kente and ongoing work by the Folklore Board to secure similar status for highlife music.
“Recently they’ve listed kente. The officers at the Folklore Board are working hard to have highlife listed for us. When I meet the ambassadors of other countries who have done it, I’ve asked that those who have support should work with me. It’s looking good,” she noted.
While optimistic, the minister stressed that she intends to move cautiously to avoid premature declarations. “I’m not in a hurry to spill things… I’m working on it to see. I’m sure you’d start seeing the fruits of what we’re putting in place from next year,” she said.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Barbara Yeboah
