Dzifa Gomashie, Tourism & Creative Arts Minister
In a surprising development, Ghana’s tourism and creative arts sector was omitted from the 2025 budget presented before parliament on March 11, 2025. The 69-page document read in a one-hour, forty-minute presentation by Minister of Finance Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, made no mention of any allocation for these key sectors.
This omission comes despite earlier promises. During the 2024 campaign season, President Mahama pledged in his manifesto to empower filmmakers, musicians, and other creative arts stakeholders by providing the necessary capital to innovate and thrive.
Additionally, at the 2025 State of the Nation address on February 27, the president unveiled plans for “The Black Star Experience,” a flagship initiative intended to position Ghana at the forefront of tourism in Africa and among the diaspora. Yet, none of these proposals received funding in the budget.
In contrast, previous fiscal years saw significant investments in the sector. In the 2023 fiscal year, Ghana’s Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture was allocated GH¢115,694,000, and in 2024, the ministry received GH¢260,948,961. The absence of any allocation in 2025 marks a notable departure from past budgets, raising concerns among industry stakeholders about the future support for tourism and creative arts in the country.
Meanwhile, the Finance Minister has explained that the sector minister would be responsible for presenting detailed reports and plans for the sector to Parliament in the coming weeks.