As we wait for the National Democratic Congress to launch its manifesto for 2020 ahead of the general elections, here are the promises they made to the tourism, arts and culture sector in their 2016 manifesto.
TOURISM, CULTURE AND CREATIVE ARTS
Our Achievements
The NDC government has undertaken the following:
Completed the construction of the Accra Visitors Information Centre (AVIC) as a one-stop-shop for tourism information;
Released GH¢1million to Creative Arts THEME 2 STRONG ECONOMY FOR JOBS & TRANSFORMATION 48 | Practitioners and mandated the Ghana Culture Forum to disburse same;
Ratified seven UNESCO Conventions to ensure that the sector receives international recognition and support for its development;
Concluded preparatory works for the redevelopment of the stretch of land from the Osu Castle to the Arts Centre into a world-class tourism centre to be known as the Marine Drive;
Encouraged the use of everyday local wear to promote our culture, create employment and market opportunities for producers and entrepreneurs; Established the Tourism Development Fund and directed its utilization to facilitate financing of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts programmes for the development of the sector.
Our commitment
We will;
Increase the sector’s contribution to GDP and foreign exchange earnings, as well as provide sustainable employment and incomes;
Resource the Ghana Tourism Authority to step up supervision, inspection and licensing of tourism enterprises, as well as develop standards for new tourism enterprises; Complete the construction of the National Science and Technology Museum;
Promote conference, package and medical tourism;
Redesign the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park on the lines of Kumasi Rattray Park to enhance tourist activities at the park as a theme park for children;
Continue the redevelopment of the Marine Drive Project in partnership with key stakeholders;
Create access and improve roads and other infrastructure leading to major tourist sites such as Kakum National Park in the Central Region, Wli Falls in the Volta Region and the Boti Falls and Kintampo Falls in the Brong-Ahafo Region;
Rejuvenate Panafest, Emancipation Day and other internationally focused festivals;
Accord export status to tourism by granting the sector the benefits and concessions available under EXIM Ghana;
Establish additional District Tourism Offices to decentralize tourism administration in the country;
Improve collection of Tourism Levy to support on-going tourism programmes and projects;
Complete all ongoing rehabilitation of regional centres of National Culture;
Strengthen national festivals of arts and culture, regional and national drama festivals for schools and colleges, and youth and children’s cultural programmes and festivals;
Organise international exchange programmes for creative arts practitioners to enhance collaboration and improve the capacity of Ghanaian creative artistes;
Develop modalities to harness the potential of the chieftaincy institution for national development.
Establish a Creative Arts Council and provide it with a Secretariat;
Enhance the operations of the Creative Arts Funding Pool, which was commenced with GHC1m in November 2015 with diversified sources of funding;
Commence a Provident Fund for ageing artistes;
Facilitate the establishment of a ‘Film Village’ in partnership with the private sector.
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By: Kwame Dadzie | ghanaweekend.com
