The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts has appealed for sustained parliamentary support to address key challenges in the tourism sector and accelerate efforts to position Ghana as a leading tourism destination and cultural hub in Africa.

The appeal was made during an engagement between officials of the Ministry and members of Parliament’s Select Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism, led by Mr Alexander Hottordze.

Representing the sector Minister, Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Deputy Minister Yussif Issaka Jajah described tourism, culture and the creative arts as critical drivers of economic growth, job creation and foreign exchange earnings.

He said the Ministry’s Medium-Term Development Plan (2026–2029) aimed to increase tourism revenue by 50 per cent, boost international and domestic tourist arrivals by 70 per cent, and grow revenue from the culture and creative arts sector by 40 per cent by 2029.

Highlighting recent achievements, Mr Jajah cited the inscription of Highlife Music on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the launch of the Ghana Tourism Marketplace and Tourism Investment Platform, the training of 488 tourism service providers, and the graduation of 193 students from HOTCATT programmes.

He also noted that Government had allocated GH¢40 million to support the film and creative arts sectors, while a US$30 million grant from China had been secured to rehabilitate and modernise the National Theatre of Ghana.

According to him, the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park had recorded increased visibility, with its social media following growing from about 475 to more than 14,000 within eight months.

He said the National Folklore Board had also made progress in securing royalties from 70 entities and enhancing the monetisation of Ghana’s cultural assets.

Mr Jajah, however, identified inadequate funding, delayed budget releases, infrastructure deficits, obsolete equipment, weak ICT systems, human resource shortages and low enrolment at HOTCATT as major challenges affecting the sector.

Mr Hottordze assured the Ministry of the Committee’s support, acknowledging the challenges and pledging to explore ways of helping the sector overcome them and enhance its contribution to national development.