The Chairman of the Ghana Culture Forum, Nana Otuo Owoahene Acheampong, has urged corporate entities to show support for the cultural sector in Ghana. Nana, who also serves as the Executive Director of the National Commission on Culture, expressed gratitude to GCB Bank PLC for their backing of the recent Ghana Culture Week. He emphasized the importance of other companies following the example set by GCB Bank PLC in endorsing cultural events and projects.
In alignment with the words of Joshua Maponga, Nana reiterated that “Culture is currency,” underscoring the significance of Ghana nurturing its cultural capital not just for economic purposes but also for its anthropological functions like identity and self-belief.
The Ghana Culture Forum, recognized as the leading cultural civil society organization in Ghana and the overarching body for all creative individuals and advocates, commemorated the 2024 Ghana Culture Week with a host of activities under the theme “Cultivating Cultural Capital: Nurturing Ghana’s Legacy for Africa’s Renaissance.”
The week commenced with a Fashion Dialogue and Expo focused on “Kente: Tradition, Modernity, and Identity,” followed by an Interschool Debate where St Thomas Aquinas SHS successfully defended its title for the second consecutive year.
The highlight of the week was the Ghana Culture Day Symposium, featuring a keynote address by Chief Moomen, Poet, Playwright, Creative Entrepreneur, and the creator of The Mansa World. Hon Stephen Asamoah Boateng, the Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, commended the forum for its efforts in promoting Ghanaian culture.
The festival concluded with a Film Screening and Dialogue showcasing the acclaimed animation film “Yaa Asantewaa: The Battle for the Golden Stool” by Jesse Sunkwa-Mills.
While cultural projects may not yield immediate financial returns, their long-term social and anthropological benefits are invaluable. Nana emphasized the necessity of investing in preserving and promoting Ghana’s cultural heritage for future generations.
The cultural sector has encountered challenges in securing funding and support from corporate bodies due to the lack of data demonstrating the sector’s economic impact. To address this, the Ghana Culture Forum, along with stakeholders and partners, has called for the consistent collection of comprehensive data on Ghana’s Culture Sector. Nana extended an appeal to GCB Bank PLC and other corporate entities to support this data collection initiative.
The successful celebration of Ghana Culture Week was made possible with the support of the Ghana Tourism Authority, National Commission on Culture, and UNESCO.
