MEETING WITH CHIEF DIRECTOR FOR MINISTRY OF TOURISM, ARTS, AND CULTURE

On 2^nd February, the Secretary-General and Program Officer for Culture at the Ghana Commission for UNESCO paid a visit to the office of the Chief Director of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. The visit was in line with the Commission’s mandate to keep all Ministries working within UNESCO’s Fields of Competence informed of the Commission’s programs and activities for the year. This is to ensure that the Commission works closely with these Ministries and their agencies in our collective efforts in promoting sustainable development through UNESCO’s fields of competence.

At the meeting critical issues on the management of the country’s diverse heritage resources, in particular, the World Heritage Sites in Ghana were discussed. In addition to this were discussions on how Ghana’s Intangible Cultural Heritage such as music, dance, practices, and cuisines could be given international recognition and protection by inscribing them on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Finally, and most importantly, the Secretary-General engaged the Chief Director in a detailed discussion on the implementation of the recently developed Multi-Stakeholder Heritage Strategic Framework for Ghana. The Secretary-General intimated that a successful implementation of the Framework will address the myriad of issues and challenges that has bedeviled the heritage, culture and creative sectors.

The Chief Director, in his concluding remarks assured the Commission of the Ministry’s utmost support.