President John Mahama has officially launched the Black Star Experience, a flagship government initiative aimed at transforming Ghana’s tourism, culture, and creative arts sectors into a global powerhouse.
The launch event was held on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at the Freedom and Justice Monument in Black Star Square, Accra. The ceremony brought together high-profile government officials, creative industry stakeholders, and dignitaries from across Ghana’s vibrant “orange economy.”
Speaking at the launch, Rex Owusu Marfo, also known as Rex Omar, the programme’s Coordinator, emphasized that the Black Star Experience is not just a project, but a movement to reawaken national pride and position Ghana as a top destination for global tourism and creative engagement.
Rex Omar outlined seven foundational pillars that the initiative will focus on:
- Cinema
- Audio
- Cuisines
- Aesthetics
- Style
- Literature
- Heritage
These pillars, he noted, will guide efforts to grow Ghana’s share of the global creative economy and rebrand the country to align with the top 20 global tourism destinations.
“We are going to rebrand Ghana to align with the world’s 20 most successful countries in tourism,” Rex Omar stated.
He also revealed plans to integrate the Black Star Experience across national initiatives, positioning Ghana as Africa’s cultural capital and a preferred global travel destination.
To that end, the programme will amplify existing cultural projects, create new initiatives, and establish global collaborations. Among the key events and infrastructure planned under the Black Star Experience are:
- Black Star Week (annual celebration in collaboration with international partners)
- Exhibition football matches featuring legends of global and Ghanaian teams
- Ananse Studio, a multimillion-dollar film production facility
- Ghana Music Week
- Creative Connect, an annual stakeholder gathering
- Detty December festivities
Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, pledged her full support to the initiative and called for increased funding for the creative sector.
“Usually, we are at the bottom of the pile when the money is being shared. Bring us to the middle and see the magic we’ll create,” she said.
President Mahama reiterated his administration’s firm commitment to significantly invest in the creative arts and tourism industries. He pledged government backing for industry players and promised to enhance Ghana’s global visibility through both digital and physical platforms.
“We are ready to collaborate with all stakeholders to unlock the full potential of our tourism sector,” the President assured.
