Tourism, arts, culture in a 24-hour economy

Last Tuesday, I had the opportunity to join a distinguished group of stakeholders for a compelling forum on integrating the 24-hour economy with Ghana’s creative, tourism and cultural sectors. 

Organised by the 24H+ Secretariat, the session aimed to demystify the government’s 24-hour economy policy and explore how the creative economy could thrive within it.

According to Goosie Tanoh, the Presidential Advisor on the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme (24H+), this was the first brainstorming session specifically with the creative and tourism sectors.

Its dual purpose: to explain the 24H+ programme and to listen – with the aim of developing collaborative strategies to ensure these sectors, are effectively integrated into the evolving economic landscape.

Held at the Bank of Ghana’s impressive new head office, the forum attracted a diverse group of thought leaders and practitioners.

Notable attendees included the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Abla Dzifa Gomashie;former Attorney General and current Council of State member Betty Mould-Iddrisu; the Ambassador of Austria to Ghana Jurgen Heissel; Ibrahim Mahama, celebrated artist;hiplife pioneer and cultural entrepreneur Reggie Rockstone; the NDC Parliamentary Candidate for Okaikwei South Baba Sadiq Abdulai Abu; the Copyright Administrator, as well as representatives from the 24H+ Secretariat and a wide cross-section of Ghana’s creative arts and tourism communities.

In her opening remarks, Ms Gomashie expressed gratitude to all who heeded the call to participate in this critical national exercise.

She emphasised the urgency of generating actionable ideas to ensure the creative economy is fully woven into the broader economic policy framework.

“Let us not leave here without contributing something tangible to this process,” she urged.

The conversation was rich and layered, diving deep into policy gaps, operational challenges and emerging opportunities for creatives and tourism operators in a 24-hour economy.

A recurring theme was the inadequate recognition of the creative sector as a serious economic player and how that perception must change to unlock the sector’s full potential.

One of the more striking contributions came from Betty Mould-Iddrisu, who called for a comprehensive review of existing legislation governing the creative arts.

She argued that Ghana’s current legal framework was ill-suited for the digital age and urged stakeholders to prioritise intellectual property rights protection as a foundation for sustainable growth.

Four key outcomes from the forum

Policy and legislative reform for creative economy: There was unanimous agreement that the legal framework governing the creative sector must be updated and harmonised to reflect current realities.

Betty Mould-Iddrisu emphasised the need for fit-for-purpose laws that protect intellectual property and ensure fair compensation for creatives, particularly in the digital space, where content is easily shared and monetised.

Baba Sadiq Abdulai Abu highlighted a critical issue – the fragmentation of funding mechanisms within the creative and tourism sectors.

He called for a harmonisation and unification of the various sector-specific funds proposed or established through multiple legislations such as the Creative Arts Fund, Tourism Development Fund and the Film Fund.

A single, transparent and efficiently managed fund, he argued, would streamline access to financing and ensure equitable support across all sub-sectors.

Heritage protection and role of antiques

In a thought-provoking presentation, Ibrahim Mahama urged the state to pay more attention to antiques and heritage assets as vital components of the arts.

He argued that preserving and promoting Ghana’s material heritage could boost the tourism and cultural sectors significantly.

Antiques, he said, are economic and cultural assets that can tell Ghana’s story, while also serving as tourism attractions and artistic inspiration for modern creatives.

Infrastructure and capacity for 24-hour economy

Participants stressed the importance of infrastructure investment – such as lighting, transportation and security – to support a vibrant 24-hour creative and tourism ecosystem.

This includes night markets, cultural festivals, entertainment zones and heritage sites that can operate round the clock. 

Additionally, calls were made for capacity building and skills development programmes, as well as dedicated financing windows to help creatives and tourism operators scale their businesses and adapt to the demands of a 24/7 economy.

Moving beyond talk shops

While this forum was a positive first step, there is a real risk that it could become just another talk shop – a well-meaning conversation with no follow-through.

However, the depth of insights shared and the urgency of the issues raised point to an immense opportunity for real transformation. 

If the 24H+ Secretariat, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and all relevant stakeholders act decisively on the suggestions made, this process could reshape the future of Ghana’s creative and tourism economy.

A well-implemented 24-hour economy, with the creative and tourism sectors at its core, could generate employment, revenue, cultural pride and position Ghana as a vibrant, round-the-clock destination.

This momentum mustn't be lost. 

The voices of creatives, cultural entrepreneurs, and tourism operators must continue to be heard, and their contributions must be reflected in policy, infrastructure, and funding decisions.

Only then can Ghana truly unlock the full potential of its creative and tourism journey in a 24-hour economy.

Let’s hope this marks the beginning of action, not just another round of words.