The Creative Arts Agency is setting its sights on redefining the nation’s cultural landscape with a series of bold initiatives aimed at celebrating and institutionalizing Ghana’s creative excellence. Speaking on Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z on Saturday, September 27, 2025, Acting Executive Secretary Gideon Aryeequaye outlined a strategic vision that blends recognition, cultural preservation, and industry development.
At the core of these initiatives is the launch of a new Creative Arts Awards, designed to honour and highlight the work of stakeholders across the creative spectrum. But unlike conventional awards shows, Aryeequaye emphasized that this event will be deeply rooted in Ghanaian identity and creativity.
“This is not your typical black-tie, red-carpet affair,” he explained. “This awards scheme is about showcasing who we are—through fashion, creativity, and presence. We want attendees to wear something they’ve created or that projects their unique artistic identity. It’s about reclaiming and owning our narrative.”
In addition to the awards, the agency is planning an annual creative arts festival that will serve as a platform for artists, performers, and creators from all sectors to exhibit their talents. Aryeequaye described the upcoming festival as a celebration of the full spectrum of Ghana’s creative industries—from music and fashion to film, design, and beyond.
Furthering the agency’s cultural preservation agenda, a dedicated programme for highlife music is also in the works. Aryeequaye described highlife as “one of Ghana’s intangible cultural heritages” that deserves sustained promotion and protection.
The Creative Arts Agency, mandated to coordinate and regulate Ghana’s creative sector, appears to be taking a proactive approach to not only celebrate artists but also reinforce national identity through the arts. With these new programmes, the agency hopes to create sustainable structures that uplift creatives while cementing Ghana’s place as a cultural powerhouse on the continent.
