Ghana has renewed its pledge to safeguard its cultural and historical landmarks during the ongoing 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris, which began on Monday, July 7 and will conclude on Thursday, July 17.
Speaking at the session for the first time, the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, highlighted Ghana’s deepening collaboration with global heritage bodies and outlined national strategies to protect the country’s heritage assets.
She extended appreciation to UNESCO and its key partners—ICCROM, ICOMOS, and IUCN—for their continued support, particularly in conserving Ghana’s historic Forts and Castles, recognized as World Heritage Sites.
Referencing a recent Reactive Monitoring mission, Hon. Gomashie assured the committee of the government’s full commitment to implementing expert recommendations from previous evaluations.
“We are committed to ensuring that the Forts and Castles World Heritage Property are properly conserved and protected,” she affirmed.
The Minister also emphasized Ghana’s support for linking tangible and intangible heritage, aligning with global draft decisions and frameworks.
“We are currently implementing the 2030 indicators for culture as part of our national development framework,” she stated.
As part of Ghana’s broader cultural agenda, Hon. Gomashie spotlighted the Black Star Experience—a nationwide cultural initiative aimed at positioning Ghana as a key driver in Africa’s creative and cultural industries.
She further commended the progress made under the Strategy for World Heritage in Africa, particularly Output 4, which focuses on capacity building through integrated heritage conservation approaches across the continent.
Reinforcing Ghana’s international engagement, the Minister mentioned the country’s participation in the Second Naples Conference on Cultural Heritage held in June 2025, describing it as a significant lead-up to MONDIACULT 2025.
“We are especially looking forward to MONDIACULT 2025, which we believe will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the global cultural agenda,” she said.
Ghana’s active presence at the 47th Session underscores its growing leadership in heritage conservation and cultural policymaking, both in Africa and on the global stage.