Government Moves to Modernise Cultural Laws to Boost Creative Economy

Government has initiated plans to review and modernise Ghana’s cultural laws and policies as part of a broader effort to accelerate growth in the creative economy, a sector that contributed an estimated US$4.8 billion to gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024, according to the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie.

Speaking at the 25th Congregation of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), the minister said the proposed reforms are intended to align Ghana’s cultural and creative policy framework with evolving global industry trends, while preserving and promoting the country’s rich cultural heritage.

She noted that the initiative forms part of government’s wider strategy to position tourism and the creative arts as critical pillars of economic diversification, employment creation and inclusive growth. According to the minister, strengthening the legal and regulatory environment is essential to unlocking the sector’s full potential and attracting sustained investment.

The creative economy, spanning film, music, fashion, festivals, visual arts and heritage tourism has increasingly gained recognition as a scalable source of foreign exchange earnings and private sector-led growth.

Ms. Gomashie explained that updating existing laws and policies would help improve the monetisation of intellectual property, protect creative works and ensure fair compensation for artists and industry practitioners.

She added that modernised regulations would also strengthen governance across creative value chains, promote transparency and encourage greater formalisation within the sector, which remains largely informal despite its growing economic significance.

The minister said clearer and more contemporary rules would reduce barriers to entry and support expansion in areas such as digital content distribution, cross-border collaborations and export-oriented creative enterprises. This, she stressed, would enhance Ghana’s competitiveness in both regional and global creative markets, while creating new opportunities for young entrepreneurs and innovators.

Ms. Gomashie further underscored the importance of leveraging Ghana’s cultural assets to support tourism growth, noting that a well-regulated creative sector could significantly deepen the country’s appeal as a cultural and heritage destination. At the ceremony, the minister was presented with a portrait award in recognition of her contributions to the tourism, culture and creative arts sector, as well as her support for GIMPA’s milestone congregation.