The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts and Member of Parliament for Ketu South, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has called for stronger collaboration among West African nations to advance the region’s cultural and socio-economic development.
She made the call while delivering the closing address at the Validation Workshop of the Meeting of Experts and Ministers responsible for Culture, Finance and Social Welfare of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) – ECOSOC in Accra on Friday, March 13, 2026.
In her remarks, the minister reflected on the establishment of Economic Community of West African States in 1975 and the mandate given to the regional body to promote cooperation, integration and development among member states.
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She emphasised that the vision behind ECOWAS can only be achieved through sustained partnership and collective commitment from all member countries.
Highlighting the importance of ECOWAS cultural cooperation, Ms Gomashie noted that culture remains a powerful tool for unity and development across West Africa.
She therefore encouraged member states to deepen collaboration in cultural initiatives that bring West Africans together and strengthen their shared identity.
The minister also referenced the recently held ECOFEST in Senegal, describing the event as a major success that demonstrated the vibrancy and potential of West Africa’s cultural and creative industries.
According to her, such initiatives provide important platforms for cultural exchange, tourism promotion and economic opportunities for creatives across the region.
The minister invoked the words of Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President, who famously said: “I am not African because I was born in Africa, but because Africa was born in me.”
She urged ministers and experts present to work tirelessly toward building a united and prosperous West Africa, stressing that the responsibility of strengthening the region lies with all member states and institutions.
The workshop brought together key regional and international stakeholders, including representatives from the African Union, the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), and the ECOWAS Parliament.
Officials from Ghana’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts and the Ministry of Finance were also present, highlighting the importance of cross-sector collaboration in promoting cultural development and social welfare within the ECOWAS-ECOSOC framework.