The Deputy CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Hon. Gilbert Abeiku Aggrey Santana, popularly known as Capo, has announced plans to bring back school cultural festivals as part of efforts to promote Ghana’s rich heritage.
Speaking at the Taste 68 @68 event, he highlighted that this initiative aligns with the manifesto of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and one of the key promises of H.E. John Mahama—to strengthen institutions that support cultural heritage tourism.
“We used to have the National Festival of Arts and Culture and Inter-Cultural Competitions across schools, from Basic Primary to Upper Primary and even Secondary Schools. We are bringing all these cultural activities back,” he stated.
Hon. Abeiku Santana emphasized that the revitalization of these programs is crucial in preserving Ghanaian traditions, which have been gradually fading as the youth embrace foreign influences.
“We are going to provide resources to restart these programs. ‘Resetting’ means reviving abandoned traditions and reactivating them. Our cultural experiences used to engage the youth, but we have lost them. If we don’t protect our culture, it may disappear, and that will affect our identity as a people,” he added.
The revival of school cultural festivals is expected to reignite national pride, encourage youth participation in traditional arts, and strengthen Ghana’s cultural tourism sector.
