The Parliamentary Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs has held a familiarization meeting with the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, as part of efforts to boost institutional cooperation and enhance oversight in Ghana’s cultural and tourism sectors.
The engagement, which took place as part of the Committee’s constitutionally mandated duties, was aimed at fostering stronger ties between Parliament and the Ministry to improve policy implementation and service delivery.
Welcoming the delegation, Minister Dzifa Gomashie described the visit as both a “divine call and a national duty,” reiterating her Ministry’s commitment to close collaboration with Parliament to advance Ghana’s cultural legacy and promote tourism.
She highlighted Ghana’s recent cultural milestone—the successful inscription of the Kete fabric on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. According to the Minister, this achievement was a direct result of strategic efforts by the Ministry to preserve and elevate the country’s cultural assets.
The Minister also disclosed plans to seek UNESCO recognition for Highlife music, describing it as “purely and authentically Ghanaian.” She revealed that her Ministry had compiled a robust archive featuring audio recordings, interviews, and academic work to support the nomination.
On the economic front, Dzifa Gomashie noted that the Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts sector currently ranks as the third-largest contributor to Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). “With your support, we believe it is possible to move from third position to the first,” she stated.
She appealed to the Committee for assistance in pushing forward legislative reforms, particularly to modernize outdated legal frameworks guiding institutions like the National Commission on Culture and the Centres for National Culture—agencies still operating under laws that predate the Ministry’s 2013 restructuring.
Chairman of the Committee and Member of Parliament for Offinso North, Fred Kyei Asamoah, commended the Minister for her leadership and noted that the visit formed part of a broader oversight initiative, in line with Order 257(2) of the Standing Orders of Parliament.
“The Committee is mandated to examine the work of ministries, departments, and agencies within its purview. As part of this responsibility, we plan to undertake a further visit to assess the Ministry’s operations and service delivery firsthand,” he said.
Ranking Member and MP for Pusiga, Ayamba Ayii Laadi, also spoke on the need to highlight the Northern Region’s tourism potential. She stressed the importance of promoting the region’s cultural attractions and cuisine, adding with a touch of humour that traditional Ghanaian food contributes to her youthful appearance.
The meeting ended with both sides expressing a shared commitment to deepening collaboration. They agreed that aligning policy direction with legislative backing would be crucial in positioning Ghana as a top-tier cultural and tourism destination globally.
