Accra, May 11, GNA - The European Community through the European Development Fund (EDF) has provided a grant of two million Euros (24 billion cedis) to Ghana to assist in the development of culture and the arts.

Prof. George Hagan, Chairman of the National Commission on Culture (NCC), said the funds would be managed over a three-year period to support human resource development; employment; income generation; research and of non-State actors from the cultural sector, among other areas.

Prof. Hagan, who was speaking at the official launch of the Cultural Initiative Support Programme (CISP) on Thursday, said the initiative would stimulate the development of arts and cultural expressions in their diversity, as an engine for economic development and poverty reduction, both at the national, local and individual levels. He said a three-member independent team from the Commission, made up of Mr Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng, Coordinator; Mr Daniel Appiah Agyei, Project Officer and Mr Joseph Zormelo, Accountant, would head the Project Management Unit.

Beneficiaries of the grant would be the civil society from the cultural sector, which would include cultural associations and foundations; individual artists; programme managers; managers of cultural centres; arts critics; sound and light engineers and groups of practitioners necessary for the functioning of the sector. Prof. Hagan also urged the programme managers to also consider bringing on board some journalists to be trained on art and culture reporting to ensure wider and accurate reportage on the sector. He explained that apart from the CISP Management Team, the Project, which had it's secretariat at the Du Bois Memorial Centre in Accra, also has a Steering Committee that included representatives of artistic disciplines to ensure proper balance of view in the decisions to be taken.

He stated that the Cultural Policy of Ghana constituted in year 2004 by the Commission was part of major efforts to promote the cultural heritage of the country and quoted a statement by President John Agyekum Kufuor, which indicated that "Ghana was founded on the clear perception that meaningful development must be based on a strong cultural foundation."

Prof. Hagan said the work of the CISP would embody the major objectives of the Cultural Policy, which included manpower development; employment and income generation; ensuring cultural agreements; research and support to artistic groups and programmes such as art and cultural exhibitions.

He said the CISP would also pursue the improvement of dialogue and consultation among artistic groups and cultural administrators; the sensitisation and mobilisation of all groups of stakeholders concerned and ensure the realisation of relevant cultural initiatives. Prof. Hagan said the Project Management Unit (PMU) would issue proposals by the end of July 2007 to cover a number of media advertisements that would ensure transparency, fairness and enough public sensitisation on the CISP support.

Prof. Hagan said information about the CSIP could be accessed on the Commission's website, which is www.ghanaculture.gov.gh Ambassador Filiberto Ceriani Sebregondi, Head of the EC delegation in Ghana said the country had a lot to offer in terms of cultural wealth and diversity and expressed the hope that the support given would open avenues for the promotion of relations between cultural workers in Ghana.

He noted that with the growth of its tourism industry, the cultural sector had the potential to play an increasing economic role and wished the NCC and the CISP well in their initiative.

Mrs Mary-Anne Addo, Head of the ACP-EU Unit of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, entreated the PMU to endeavour to implement all planned activities envisaged under the Project. She reminded members that regular cash flow, quick disbursement and regular replenishment of project funds and accounts were crucial in achieving the targets.