Government will Invest in Ghana’s Tourism and Creative Economy- President Mahama

Government will make a substantial investment in Ghana’s tourism sector and creative economy.

President John Dramani Mahama who said this at the launch of the “Blackstar Experience” in Accra on Thursday, added that government will also provide practical support to creative industry practitioners and boost Ghana’s presence on both digital and physical platforms.

“My government makes an unwavering commitment to invest substantially into the tourism space and the creative economy,” he stressed.

In his address, President Mahama also assured stakeholders that government will collaborate with them to promote the sector.

The Blackstar Experience Coordinator, Rex Owusu Marfo (Rex Omar), detailed the framework of the initiative during the launch event.

According to him, the Blackstar Experience will be “more than just a project, but rather a movement, a re-awakening of the national pride and an invitation to the world to experience the soul of Ghana.”

Rex Omar explained that the programme will focus on seven pillars: cinema, audio, cuisines, aesthetics, style, literature and heritage. These pillars are designed to increase Ghana’s share of the global creative culture economy.

“The overarching vision of the Blackstar Experience Secretariat will be to align Ghana’s brand reputation with 20 most esteemed countries or country brands worldwide.

“It means we are going to rebrand Ghana to align with the world’s 20 successful countries when it comes to tourism,” he noted.

He disclosed that the Secretariat plans to incorporate the Blackstar Experience framework into various national initiatives across multiple sectors, position Ghana as a preferred destination for global travelers, and transform the country into Africa’s cultural capital.

Several major projects were announced as part of the Blackstar Experience, including annual Blackstar Week celebrations in collaboration with international organizations, exhibition football matches between legends of international football clubs and legends of Ghana’s national team, and the establishment of a multi-million dollar film studio named “Ananse Studio.”

Other initiatives include Ghana Music Week celebrations, an annual stakeholder meeting called “Creative Connect,” and the promotion of “Detty December” events.

The Blackstar Experience is the government’s flagship programme for Ghana’s tourism, culture and creative arts industries.

Richard Aniagyei, ISD