The role of the national commission on culture in the socio-economic development of Ghana: the case of Brong Ahafo region

Abstract

The role of institutions in national development has been championed by various governments for some time to come now. However, what is most topical in this quest is the creation of institutions that would look at development from within, taking cognizance of the local needs and resources of the people. This study was set out to examine the role of the National Commission on Culture on the socio-economic development of Ghana using the Brong Ahafo region as study area. The study made use of questionnaires and interviews as data collection instruments and a total of fifty respondents were covered made up of respondents from the district assembly, religious bodies, educational institutions, social groups, voluntary associations, Non-governmental organisations and artistic groups. The study revealed that the people in the Brong Ahafo region were aware of the role of the commission in the promotion of culture in the country. Among other roles, the study further revealed that the commission was performing its mandated roles of creating awareness on Ghanaian culture and fostering national unity among the diverse ethnic groups. However, the commission faced some challenges such as inadequate human resources, inadequate infrastructural facilities and over concentration of the commission on day to day administration to the detriment of the broader goals. The recommend that educational campaigns among the populace to raise their awareness of the value of Ghanaian culture to national development and to recruit qualified staff to run the activities of the commission.