AU Day: Creative arts industry key to African’s economic growth – Ghana notes

Ghana has made a clarion call to other African states to make the creative arts industry a major contributor to their growth and transformation.

Ghana noted that the continent has rich heritage and culture that could be tapped into to make that a reality.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Ministry to mark the 2021 African Union Day celebrated under the AU adopted theme, “ARTS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE: LEVERS FOR BUILDING THE AFRICA WE WANT”.

“Globally, the cultural and creative art industries play a key role in contributing to GDP economic growth and development,” the statement said, stressing that “Ghana is no exception.”

25^th May, 2021, marks the 58^th anniversary of the African Union, which was founded as the Organisation of African Unity, in 1963, in Addis Ababa, pursuant to a collective quest to work together for the political emancipation of the African continent from the shackles of colonialism and imperialism.

Subsequently, the OAU was transformed in 2002 into the African Union with a shift in focus from political liberation to socio-economic emancipation of the African continent.

It is worth noting that Aspiration 5 of Agenda 2063 envisions ‘An Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, shared values and ethics’

“This calls for an African cultural renaissance which is pre-eminent and inculcates the spirit of Pan Africanism,” the statement by Foreign Affairs Ministry said.

“On this occasion, Ghanaians as a collective, are encouraged to embrace Government’s efforts at delivering on the aspirations of Agenda 2063 and re-dedicate this memorable day to playing our role in the realisation of our national and broad continental objectives through the instrumentality of the African Union.”

The statement noted that Ghana is proud to play host to the Secretariat of the AFCFTA, a key milestone in the attainment of our Agenda 2063.

“These initiatives among other flagship programmes, are meant to foster democracy, good governance, rule of law, as well as deepen regional integration on the African continent.”