Ghana, EU begin three-year Sankofa II Project to protect forts and grow creative sector

Ghana has entered a three-year partnership with the European Union to preserve the country's historic forts and castles and to strengthen its cultural and creative industries.

The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, announced this during the Government Accountability Series held at the Presidency on Monday.

She said the Ministry, on behalf of the Government of Ghana, is working with the European Union and Expertise France, which serves as the implementing body, to deliver the second phase of the Sankofa project, known as Sankofa II.

According to the Minister, Sankofa II is a multi-sectoral initiative designed to support Ghana's sustainable cultural and economic development. It seeks to improve the management of the country's cultural heritage while boosting its Cultural and Creative Industries. The second phase builds on the gains of the first Sankofa project.

She explained that the project aligns with Ghana's national strategies, including the National Tourism Development Plan, the mandate of the Creative Arts Agency and the Digital Ghana Agenda. It also contributes to the European Union's priorities in West Africa.

The Minister said Sankofa II will address structural challenges in Ghana's heritage sector, among them limited institutional capacity, outdated legal frameworks and insufficient documentation.

At the same time, it will open up economic and social opportunities within the creative industries in areas such as music, fashion, film, animation and digital content creation.

She noted that the project's general objective is to promote sustainable heritage tourism and cultural economic growth. It will run through two main components.

According to Madam Gomashie, the first focuses on heritage conservation and management, making Ghana's heritage more accessible and easier to understand for a range of audiences.

The second supports innovation, inclusion and professionalisation in the creative industries, with special attention to young people and women.

“Planned activities include capacity building for public institutions such as the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board. The project will also develop technical documentation and digital tools, including ArchLab, 3D scans and virtual reality content, to safeguard and showcase built heritage,” she added.

She said these activities will support inclusive cultural events and festivals in music, fashion, film, animation, literature and the visual arts, and offer professional training, international mobility and networking for artists, creative entrepreneurs and cultural operators. Gender equality, environmental responsibility, digital transformation and community participation run through the entire project.

She disclosed that Sankofa II will be implemented over 36 months at a total budget of 2.5 million euros.

The Minister said tourism, culture and the creative arts are already contributing to jobs, revenue and national identity, and that Ghana remains committed to cultural preservation, private sector partnership and inclusive growth.