The Member of Parliament for Ketu South Constituency, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has been appointed as Minister-designate for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts.
This appointment was made by President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday, January 16, 2025.
Abla Dzifa Gomashie is a renowned actress, film producer, scriptwriter and a revered politician.
She served as the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts in the National Democratic Congress during their tenure between 2013 and 2017 when John Mahama first created the ministry. Currently, she is the Member of Parliament for the NDC in the Ketu South Constituency and a also a Queen Mother in the Aflao Traditional Area.
Dzifa Gomashie holds a Master of Philosophy (2005-2008) in African Studies from the University of Ghana, a Bachelor of Fine Arts (2000-2003) with a First-Class Honors from the School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana, and a Diploma in Theatre Arts (1994-1998) from the same University.
She has an unbridled passion for arts, culture and heritage and has dedicated herself to advancing various causes in that regard. While she was the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, she played a huge role in laying the foundation for the review and drafting of documents such as the Ghana Culture Policy, Creative Arts Industry Bill, among other initiatives that are gradually taking shape in the sector.
She brought her wealth of experience in the industry to the appointment both within Ghana and internationally. She serves on the committee in FEPACI, the Film Federation of the African Union. She is also a member and rapporteur of the ECOWAS committee for the Reparation of Stolen Artefacts of Africa.
She was also instrumental in the formation of the Creative Arts Council (now Creative Arts Agency), a body that is supposed to regulate and coordinate the activities of the culture and creatives industries made up of thirteen sub-fields.
Some creative arts practitioners have posited that her relevant previous knowledge in working at the Ministry, makes her a good candidate for the position as the substantive minister (and not a deputy minister this time around). They believe with this experience, she stands a better chance of coming back to the ministry.
The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts has thirteen Agencies, namely; Ghana Tourism Authority, Ghana Tourism Development Company, National Film Authority, National Commission on Culture, National Theatre, National Folklore Board, Creative Arts Agency, Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, Dubois Centre, National Museum, Hotel, Catering & Tourism Training Institute and Bureau of Ghana Languages.