Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson
The Minister of Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, has announced that the government has set aside GH₵20 million as the seed capital for the Creative Arts Fund in 2026.
He disclosed this during his reading of the 2026 Fiscal Budget before Parliament on November 14, 2025.
According to him, the Fund is designed to support Ghana’s arts, music, fashion, food and wider creative sectors.
“Mr. Speaker, Government has also allocated an amount of GH¢20 million to the Creative Arts Fund as seed money for the arts, music, fashion, food and other creative sectors,” he said.
The fund is part of a broader strategy to empower Ghana’s creative industries, which have historically lacked reliable public financing.
In addition, the 2026 Budget also contains an allocation of GH¢20 million to revive the film sector and an undisclosed amount for the renovation of the National Theatre.
These allocations come after promises by President John Dramani Mahama towards the flagship Black Star Experience.
The Black Star Experience is Ghana’s new year-round cultural and creative-economy initiative launched by President John Dramani Mahama in May 2025 to reposition Ghana as a global leader in arts, heritage and tourism.
It is structured around seven pillars Cinema, Audio (music), Cuisine, Aesthetics, Style, Literature, and Heritage aimed at boosting the creative industries and attracting global investment.
The initiative also seeks to create jobs, nurture talent, and present Ghana’s vibrancy to the world through cultural festivals, film, food experiences, and heritage storytelling.
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