Ministers and senior cultural officials from Senegal, Ghana, Liberia, The Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau have been meeting in Dakar on Tuesday over strengthening support and protection for cultural and creative industries across the region.
The meeting was held as part of the inaugural edition of the Festival of West African Arts and Culture (ECOFEST), launched on Sunday evening by Senegalese prime minister Ousmane Sonko.
Organised by the ECOWAS and UEMOA Commissions, and Senegal, ECOFEST highlights culture’s central role in regional integration and development.
Senegal’s culture, crafts, and tourism minister, Amadou Bâ, underlined the government’s commitment to placing culture at the centre of public policy. He announced new initiatives to strengthen creative industry ecosystems, develop value chains, and establish dedicated funds to support artistic creation. He also stressed the importance of promoting “Made in Senegal, Made in Africa” brands to position culture, tourism, and crafts as key economic catalysts. He was speaking alongside Bakary Sarr, Secretary of State for Culture, Creative Industries, and Historical Heritage.
Ghana’s tourism, arts, and culture minister, Ms. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, described culture as a reflection of her people’s identity and way of life. She cast lght on a national contest rewarding youth for cultural preservation initiatives and renewed Ghana’s call for the return of colonial-era artefacts under the bold theme: “These items must return home.”
Liberia’s deputy culture and tourism minister, Ms. Kadiatu Konteh Brohiri, celebrated Africa’s pride in traditional dress and the global reach of African music. According to her, culture has contributed to conflict resolution and cohesion in Liberia, and called for stronger regional cooperation to share best practices and improve protection of artistic works.
The Gambia’s tourism and culture minister, Abdoulie Jobe, recalled the words of Senegl’s former President Léopold Sédar Senghor: “Culture is at the beginning and at the end of development.” Jobe emphasised the link between culture, tourism, and peace, noting that his country continues to engage stakeholders to strengthen this domain as a tool for social cohesion.
Guinea-Bissau’s Secretary General of the Ministry of Culture and Crafts, Ms. Ramatoulaye Camara, commended the organisation of ECOFEST 2025 and its success in showcasing West Africa’s cultural diversity.
These contributions she said, reaffirm the commitment of ECOWAS member states to deeper cultural cooperation and to strengthening the region’s creative economy as a driver of development and social cohesion.
WN/as/APA