President Mahama Pledges to Promote Ghana’s Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts

President John Dramani Mahama has pledged to serve as a global ambassador for Ghana’s tourism, culture, and creative arts, highlighting their potential to create jobs and stimulate the local economy.

Delivering the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SoNA) in Parliament on Friday, President Mahama, dressed in royal fugu, outlined government plans to strengthen infrastructure for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE).

This includes the renovation of the State Banquet Hall, the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC), and the National Theatre, which will be restored to host high-level conferences, state ceremonies, and international exhibitions.

The president also unveiled plans for a major public-private partnership (PPP) to develop a state-of-the-art convention and creative events centre, positioning Ghana as a leading MICE hub in West Africa.

He further highlighted initiatives to promote content creation and new media as avenues for job creation, reaffirming the government’s commitment to tourism, culture, and the creative arts as key drivers of economic growth.

President Mahama has consistently championed Ghanaian culture. International interest in Ghanaian heritage has grown following his recent visit to Zambia, where his fugu outfit from Northern Ghana attracted widespread attention. The outfit’s rising popularity has boosted local demand, benefiting artisans and retailers directly.

Building on this momentum, Ghana and Zambia will jointly host a Fugu and Kente Exhibition in Lusaka from March 6–8, showcasing the richness of Ghanaian textiles and craftsmanship.

Meanwhile, in the 2026 budget, ₵20 million each has been allocated to the National Film Authority (NFA) and the Creative Arts Agency (CAA).