The Chairman of the Ghana Cultural Forum, Nana Otuo Owoahene Acheampong, has attributed lack of funds as a setback to the work of the National Commission on Culture.

He told Showbiz A-Z host Kwame Dadzie on Joy FM that in a particular quarter of a year, the commission received GH¢3,000 from government.

“I know that the last quarter or so or two quarters previously, the money that Commission on Culture received was GH¢3,000 for a whole quarter. Can it even buy fuel for the Executive Director or common A4 papers for to run the place? So it is one critical area when it comes to the implementation of the Cultural policy and other planning of the National Commission on Culture.

“They have been handicapped for all these period. So it is important that we have a second look at their mandate and resource well to be able to deliver on their mandate,” Nana Otuo said. 

The National Commission on Culture was established by the Provisional National Defense Council (PNDC) law 238 in 1990 to manage from a holistic perspective of the Cultural life of our country Ghana. 

It is an implementation body under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture charged with the responsibility of ensuring the implementation off the culture policy of Ghana. 

It is the sole body that has been tasked to enforce the provisions in the Cultural Policy of Ghana which was last received in 2004. 

Nana Otuo made the comment during the discussion of the role of culture in national development on Showbiz A-Z. 

The National Commission on Culture draws funding from the Cultural Trust Fund which is sourced from the following, special Government contribution, earnings from a special cultural lottery, Ten percent (10%) earnings from the National Lottery and Earnings from exhibitions, promotions and commercial activities.

Others are Grants from International Agencies and organizations, A percentage from Copyright earnings, Donations, among others.

The National Commission On Culture is also supposed to receive funding for the promotion and development of the arts and culture from other sources such as Government subvention and Contributions.