In pursuance of Article 9 of the 2005 UNESCO Convention, each State Party is to submit a Quadrennial Report on their respective level of implementation. Ghana ratified the Convention in 2015 and was deposited with UNESCO in 2016. Ghana’s reporting was therefore due on 30th April, 2020. Ghana has carried out very important programmes and projects as part of the implementation process of the 2005 Convention since 2016.

The implementation of the 2005 Convention is contributing significantly to the attainment of SDG Goals 4, 5, 8, 10, 16 and 17 which invariably strengthens the governance of culture through support for employment and entrepreneurship in the cultural sector, including through digital technology, support of more balanced inflow of cultural goods and services, the mobility of artists and cultural professionals and freedom of creation.

The strategic axis for the implementation of the convention in respect of promoting the prolific growth of cultural and creative industries in Ghana include the following:

o Building productive industries with the support and use of positive Ghanaian cultural values, institutions and resources to create employment, generate wealth and ensure the growth and stability of the nation
o Promoting creative and cultural industries and making the needed investment in training, equipment, entrepreneurship, creative ventures and initiatives as well as marketing, to enhance the wealth and benefits accruing to producers and their communities
o Making arts and cultural programmes and products accessible to all
o Setting up standards and creating mechanisms for recognizing and rewarding excellence.

Specific actions taken by the Ghana include the following:
o Supporting producers with appropriate technology, education and practical demonstration
o Documenting, preserving and patenting the formula and traditional methods of production and processing
o Forming and strengthening Associations of Producers to set standards to ensure production quality
o Researching into consumer tastes and preferences to improve production quality
o Exploring and expanding local and external markets for cultural goods and services and creating a niche for indigenous cultural products from the sub region and the continent
o Facilitating access to credit
o Supporting sub regional festivals, art fairs and other artist’s programmes to raise the profile of cultural products on the world cultural scene
o Government is strengthening institutions of Culture e.g. Museums, theatres, art and craft studios etc.

From the year 2016 to date, the core functions and within the tenets of the 2005 Convention was to work primarily towards the attainment of the Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda Policy Framework (2014 -2017) and secondly the Medium-Term National Development Policy Framework An Agenda For Jobs: Creating Prosperity And Equal Opportunity For All 2018-2021 which focuses attention on the President’s Coordinated Programme of Economic and Social Development Policies (CP) (2017-2024). The overall direction for national development, as contained in the CP, is to create the conditions for the private sector to thrive in order to propel growth and create ample employment opportunities, especially for the youth.

The medium-term agenda (2018-2021) is anchored on five key pillars of growth and development, namely:
1. Restoring the economy;
2. Transforming agriculture and industry;
3. Revamping economic and social infrastructure;
4. Strengthening social protection and inclusion; and
5. Reforming public service delivery institutions.

To enhance economic development and Develop a Competitive Creative Arts Industry, Government has pursued the following prescribed strategies:
• Develop a policy and enforce legal and regulatory frameworks for the development of the creative arts industry (SDG Target 16.b)
• Strengthen the Copyright Office and its related agencies (SDG Target 16.6)
• Strengthen the National Creative Arts Council to implement its programmes effectively (SDG Target 16.6)
• Promote Public-Private-Participation in the development of the creative arts industry (SDG Target 17.17)
• Promote partnerships and participation in global arts events and businesses (SDG Target 17.17)
• Strengthen institutions and improve coordination framework of creative arts sector (SDG Target 16.6)
• Create awareness of the importance of tourism and creative arts (SDGs Targets 8.9, 12.b).

To Promote culture in the development process, Government has pursued the following prescribed strategies:
• Mainstream culture in all aspect of national development (SDG Targets 4.7, 17.14)
• Review and implement cultural policy framework (SDG Target 8.9)
• Revamp Centres for National Culture (SDG Targets 8.9, 16.6)
• Support the establishment of national theatres and museums (SDG Target 8.9)
• Restructure the National Commission on Culture (SDG Target 16.6)
• Enhance capacity for development of culture industry (SDG Target 16.a)
• Develop legal regime and processes for safeguarding the intellectual property and creative heritage of Ghana (SDG
• Targets 12.b, 17.10)
• Strengthen institutions and improve coordination framework of cultural and creative arts sectors for development of culture (SDG Target 16.a)
• Establish mechanisms to eradicate negative cultural practices and project the Ghanaian cultural heritage (SDG Target 12.b)
• Create awareness of the importance of culture for development and creative arts (SDG Target 12.8)
• Enhance private sector participation (SDG Target 17.17)
• Popularize local cuisine and revive lost specialties and staples

The expected outcomes include the following;
• Strong frameworks, regulations and institutions for promoting Ghanaian culture
• Good appreciation of national culture
• Good governance regime for emerging areas in the creative and cultural industries
• Strong capacity of culture institutions
• Practice of outmoded rites and customs inimical to development eliminated
• Availability of reliable data on the cultural sector
• Effective communication between MDAs and the creative industry
• Adequate cultural infrastructure
• Reduction of negative influence of foreign culture
• Increased revenue generation from the publishing of Ghanaian Language materials and promotion of performing Arts Disciplines
• Increased appreciation and improved literacy in Ghanaian languages and pride in Ghanaian culture