Coordinator of the Black Star Experience Secretariat, Rex Owusu Marfo, popularly known as Rex Omar, has explained why several planned projects under the initiative were not implemented in 2025.
He attributed the situation primarily to the absence of a budgetary allocation, explaining that the secretariat was established after the 2025 national budget had already been presented, making it impossible for its activities to be captured financially for that year.
Rex Omar clarified that the Black Star Experience Secretariat does not operate as an independent agency but functions as one of the offices under the Presidency. As a result, it does not have a separate account and must rely on approvals and clearances from the Presidency before undertaking any major activities.
Due to these constraints, many of the projects and programmes initially planned for 2025 could not be executed as intended. However, he noted that measures have since been taken to prevent a recurrence of the situation.
According to Rex Omar, the secretariat has successfully presented and defended its proposed budget for 2026, which is expected to provide the needed financial backing for full-scale implementation of its plans.
In the interim, he said 2025 was used as a preparatory year to lay a strong foundation for the Black Star Experience. During this period, the team undertook extensive groundwork, including international engagements to sign memoranda of understanding for future collaborations, as well as the organisation of initiatives such as Creative Connect Afrika and Taste the Culture.
The Black Star Experience is the government’s flagship Culture, Arts, and Tourism initiative aimed at redefining and affirming Ghanaian identity, attracting investment, creating employment opportunities, and boosting tourism through year-round celebrations across entertainment, arts, culture, and education.
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