Deputy Min. calls for revamping of Arts and Culture in Schools

The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Madam Dzifa Abla Gomashie has called on Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to collaborate with Ghana Education Service and the Centre for National Culture to revamp Arts and Cultural activities in the various basic and second cycle schools in the country, as a means of preserving and promoting the rich Ghanaian culture.

According to her, Arts and Culture is what distinguishes a person or a group of people from others hence the need to ensure it never goes extinct, noting that without art and culture a person or group of people has no identity and heritage.

This, she said is necessary in protecting the country’s culture heritage against western adulteration and imbibing true Ghanaian values and patriotism among the youth and generations unborn.

Speaking at the Southern Volta Regional Festival of Arts and Culture held in Akatsi last Thursday, Dzifa Gomashie who is a proud product of the Art and cultural industry, said the industry has the potential to provide sustainable jobs for the teeming youth and transform the economy of the region, thus appealed to the MMDAs to assist in its development and promotion.  

She also encouraged young people to take interest in Arts and cultural activities so as to learn about the unique and diverse cultural practices in the country to help shape their lives for the better.

The event which saw colourful cultural performances by various troupes and Arts exhibition, was used to select performing groups and exhibitors to represent the Volta region in the upcoming National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFAC 2014) scheduled for November 29, at Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo region under theme ‘The Creative Arts and Tourism Industry, a Platform for National Development.’

Similar event was also held at Hohoe on September 17, for the districts in the northern part of the region.

The Volta Regional Minister, Madam Helen Adjoa Ntoso called for the proper integration of the Creative Arts sector in communities with tourism sites to promote communal growth of both sectors. She also entreated Ghanaians to patronise the numerous tourist attractions in the region to boost the growth of local economies.

Madam Ntoso also reiterated government’s commitment towards the completion of the regional office complex of the Centre for National Culture in Ho.