The Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts will host the maiden Africa Festival of Arts and Creatives from December 9-12 this year to showcase the diversity and excellence of African arts and culture.

Madam Ablah Dzifa Gomashie, the sector minister, speaking at the Government Accountability Series in Accra, said the initiative was expected to provide opportunities for over 20,000 Ghanaians in the tourism and creative arts sectors.

She said the festival, among other objectives, would help to position Africa’s creative economy as a driver of development; promote investment, entrepreneurship, tourism, innovation, and skills development, especially for the youth and women.

Madam Gomashie noted that the festival, which followed an agreement between the MoTCCA and the African Union Development Agency, would deepen collaboration and cultural diplomacy among creatives and stakeholders in the sector.

“The festival will showcase the richness of African arts and culture through music, dance, theatre, film, literature, fashion…

“It will strengthen Pan-African unity and global engagement by reconnecting Africa with its diaspora and protect African cultural leadership and creative excellence on the global stage and leave a lasting continental legacy while advancing Agenda 2026 through culture-led development,” she said.

Highlighting progress in the sector, she noted that domestic tourism grew by over seven percent in 2025, as the ministry continued to improve tourism infrastructure and enhance local content creation.

The Member of Parliament for Ketu South cited upgrades at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, as well as a partnership with the W.E.B. Du Bois Foundation to manage the Du Bois Centre and strengthen global visibility.

She also announced a partnership with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) to host the Intellectual Property Conference for musicians in Africa and the Caribbean, to build professional capacity in copyright and facilitate co-creation of copyright-protected works in both regions.

Plans were underway to strengthen collaboration and promote public awareness on the provisions and strategic pillars of the country’s newly revised National Cultural Policy, Madam Gomashie said.

“Tourism, culture, and creative arts are contributors to jobs, revenue, and national identity… with clear results in digitisation, infrastructure, skills development, we remain committed to job creation, culture preservation, private sector partnerships, and inclusive growth,” she added.