The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has introduced a new initiative called the Blackstar Experience, which aims to celebrate culture, tourism, and art in Ghana.
Contrary to speculations that this program will overshadow the Beyond the Return initiative, NDC’s creative arts lead, Rex Omar, clarified that it will actually fall under their flagship program.
During a discussion on Joy FM’s Manifesto Debate on the Creative Economy, Rex Omar explained that the Blackstar Experience is a year-long celebration that will encompass various events and initiatives related to the creative arts.
He emphasized that the NDC is not looking to undermine existing programs like the Year of Return and December in GH, but rather integrate them into the Blackstar Experience.
The NDC envisions the Blackstar Experience as a key component of their broader plan to harness the creative economy for economic growth and job creation. The initiative is set to promote Ghana as a leading cultural destination and attract investment in the arts and tourism sectors.
Some of the specific activities planned under the Blackstar Experience include the celebration of Pan African Month, Ghana Film Festival and Awards Month, Ghana Music World, Culinary Month, Architecture, Design, Arts and Crafts, and Fashion and Textiles Month.
In contrast, the ‘Beyond the Return’ initiative, launched by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), is a follow-up to the successful ‘Year Of Return’ Ghana 2019 campaign.
This campaign commemorated the 400th Anniversary of the arrival of enslaved Africans in Jamestown Virginia in 1619 and aimed to promote heritage, history, and diaspora engagement.
