Culture Minister arrives from Santo Domingo

Accra, Oct. 22, GNA - Mr. Sampson K. Boafo, Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, arrived in Accra last night after leading a delegation from Ghana to participate in the second meeting of the ACP (African Caribbean and Pacific Nations) Ministers of Culture, held in Santo Domingo, capital city of the Dominican Republic.

Other members of the delegation were (Mrs) Nana Bema Kumi, Ghana's Ambassador to Belgium and some officials of the Ministry.

In a statement to journalists on arrival, Mr Boafo said the 79-member state meeting adopted the Santo Domingo Resolution which seeks to operationalise the Dakar declaration of the first meeting of the Ministers of Culture held in Dakar in June 2003.

He said the meeting also reviewed the implementation of the Dakar Declaration and was pleased with measures taken to implement the Dakar plan of action.

Mr. Boafo said the Santo Domingo Resolution recalled the importance of culture to sustainable development adopted by the 2004 summit of ACP Heads of State and Government, while acknowledging the role of ACP regional organizations in promoting development among member states. He said the resolution also acknowledged the importance of promoting regional cooperation strategies within the framework of the Cotonou Agreement and intra ACP cooperation for mainstreaming Culture in development.

The minister said member states were urged to ratify the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of Diversity of Cultural Expressions as well as the UNESCO Convention on Intangible Heritage of 2003. He said the meeting also urged South-South co-operation among member states, and also called for a reduction in the digital divide, as well as the creation of cultural networks in the promotion of ACP cultural strategies and policies.

The Minister said Ghana participated in the first ACP festival in Santo Domingo from October 14 to 21, saying, "it is our expectation that Ghana's textiles and handicrafts industry will receive a further boost through this exposure." 22 Oct. 06