Gov’t Pledges GH¢20M Fund for Creative Arts  

The Government has taken a concrete step to support Ghana’s creative sector by establishing a Creative Arts Fund, which has been included in the 2026 budget.

Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson announced the allocation during his presentation of the budget statement on Thursday, November 13, 2025. He told Parliament that the fund will start with GH¢20 million to support music, fashion, visual arts, culinary creative industries, and the wider value chains that sustain them.

“We will also establish the Creative Arts Fund for the arts, music, fashion, food, and other creative sectors,” he said.

The fund is designed to provide practical and immediate support. It will offer small production grants, finance artist training and technical upgrades, support market access, and help creative small businesses professionalise their operations. Dr. Forson explained that this initiative is part of a broader strategy to transform culture into a source of growth and employment, rather than a fringe activity.

For many creatives, this support is crucial. Years of irregular funding and weak market structures have left talented musicians, designers, chefs, and visual artists without a predictable income. Seed funding can cover early-stage risks that private investors often avoid.

If used effectively for production, distribution, export promotion, and incubation hubs, the fund could open doors to new commercial partnerships and tourism opportunities.

The success of the fund will depend on clear rules and strong governance. The previous Akufo-Addo administration had pledged to set up a similar fund to provide financial support for artists, alongside the construction of theatres in Kumasi.

Complementary measures in the 2026 budget suggest a broader plan. The Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts is tasked with modernising cultural infrastructure and improving incentives for creatives.

In related developments, Kafui Danku, Executive Secretary of the National Film Authority (NFA), pledged to establish a world-class filming studio to enhance content production and meet global standards.