Should tourism be separated from Arts and Culture?

GhanaWeb Feature by Isaac Dadzie

Whenever you tune in to the news for any updates related to music, theatre, dance, or film in Ghana, the primary ministry mentioned is the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture. Similarly, anything pertaining to historical sites, heritage places, and significant cultural features also falls under this ministry.

A brief look at the ministry’s website reveals its major function, which aims at creating a conducive environment for tourism, arts, and culture to thrive and contribute significantly to the GDP through effective policies, plans, programs, and initiatives.

However, a pressing question from many stakeholders, especially in the creative arts industry, is why isn’t the tourism aspect a separate ministry?

In other countries like the UK, UAE, and the US, separate government agencies oversee the tourism sector and the culture and creative arts sector.

Also, the fact that they are combined must serve a practical purpose.

Let’s examine some stakeholders who have advocated for a split of these ministries.

“The creation of arts and its representation is a completely different thing and it is not done for tourism, or to create things for tourists to come and see, there are products that artistes produce that will become some kind of attraction.

“But I think that tourism in itself is a completely different thing. If you ask me, I do think that creative arts should have a separate ministry,” Mantse Aryeequaye, founder of the Chale Wote Festival, said in a 2023 interview.

Additionally, he mentioned that “No government has their concentration on the Creative Arts industry, meanwhile for most people, music is used for everything they do. So why are creatives not respected and supported well enough?”

Adding his voice to the growing chorus, Highlife musician Kaakyire Kwame Appiah during recent interview this year said, “The problem that we have is as a result of the fact that there’s only one ministry for both Creative Arts, Culture and Tourism. There is no need putting the two under one umbrella,” Highlife musician Kaakyire Kwame Appiah said in a 2024 interview.

Furthermore, music legend Rex Omar believes, “the Ministry gives more attention to tourism at the expense of the creative arts, which is not ideal because both sectors are equally important”

But the central argument is that tourism receives more attention than the creative arts. The creative arts are already divided into various sectors such as music, film, dance, theatre, and art, meaning they have to share limited resources.

Advocates have proposed a separate body to focus on all aspects of the creative arts sector instead of competing for resources.

What could be a reason or benefit of combining both?

One argument could be based on Ghana’s rich culture as it is known for its expressiveness, from fashion to storytelling to food. Major events like weddings, funerals, and birthdays are incomplete without music and dance, attracting both locals and tourists.

Many tourists and diasporans visiting Ghana attend music events, art exhibitions, and film festivals, making events like December-In-Ghana significant.

The creative arts economy during the holiday season in Ghana thrives due to an influx of foreigners bringing in foreign currencies.

Therefore, since all these elements are interconnected, it makes sense for the Tourism ministry to remain connected to Arts and Culture.

According to Nana Asaase, an author, poet, and spoken word artist, “If there's a Ministry of Tourism, let's have a Ministry of Tourism. If it's a Ministry of Arts and Culture, let's keep it that way. They can be separate entities. If they operate as one entity, tourism may benefit at the expense of arts and culture.”

However, what is tourism without arts and culture? They are intertwined. The decision to separate or combine tourism with arts and culture in the ministry should be based on the benefits it brings.

One might argue that the Creative Arts sector is being overlooked in favor of tourism but the question remains, would a separation be beneficial this time?

ID/MA

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