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Parliamentary Committee engages Tourism Minister to bolster sector collaboration
In a move aimed at deepening institutional collaboration and strengthening oversight, the Parliamentary Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs has paid a familiarisation visit to the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie.
The visit, conducted as part of the Committee’s constitutionally mandated oversight responsibilities, sought to foster stronger ties between the legislative and executive arms of government to enhance policy implementation and service delivery in the Cultural and Tourism sectors.
Welcoming the delegation, Dzifa Gomashie described the visit as both a “divine call and a national duty.” She emphasised the Ministry’s readiness to work closely with Parliament to leverage legislative support for the promotion of Ghana’s cultural identity and the growth of the tourism sector.
Highlighting recent milestones, the Minister celebrated Ghana’s successful inscription of the iconic Kete fabric on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. She credited this achievement to the Ministry’s deliberate efforts to safeguard and promote Ghana’s rich cultural heritage globally.
The Minister also revealed ongoing initiatives to secure UNESCO recognition for Highlife music, which she described as “purely and authentically Ghanaian.” She noted that the Ministry has assembled a comprehensive archive, including audio recordings, interviews, and scholarly materials, to support its nomination efforts.
Underscoring the economic significance of the sector, the Minister disclosed that Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts currently stand as the third-largest contributors to Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). “With your support,” she said, “we believe it is possible to move from third position to the first.”
She further called on Parliament to support legislative reforms to modernize and streamline the operations of agencies under the Ministry. Many of these institutions, such as the National Commission on Culture and the Centres for National Culture, still operate under outdated legal frameworks, despite the Ministry’s restructuring under a 2013 Executive Instrument.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee, Hon. Fred Kyei Asamoah, who is also the Member of Parliament for Offinso North, praised the Minister’s leadership and innovation. He explained that the visit formed part of a broader familiarization tour by the Committee, in line with Order 257(2) of the Standing Orders of Parliament.
“The Committee is mandated to examine the work of ministries, departments, and agencies within its purview. As part of this responsibility, we plan to undertake a further visit to assess the Ministry’s operations and service delivery firsthand,” Mr.Asamoah stated.
Ranking Member of the Committee and MP for Pusiga, Ayamba Ayii Laadi, emphasised the importance of promoting tourism in the Northern Region.
She highlighted the potential of the region’s unique attractions and local cuisine, humorously noting the health benefits of traditional Ghanaian dishes, which she credited for her youthful appearance.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to ongoing collaboration between the Ministry and the Committee. Both parties agreed that strengthening partnerships and aligning policy and legislative frameworks are essential to positioning Ghana as a leading cultural and tourism destination on the global stage.
The National Identification Authority (NIA) has announced the commencement of enforcement of the National Identity Register (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2523), warning institutions that fail to comply with the new requirements of possible fines of up to 2,000 penalty units.
The Authority says it will deploy a Biometric Verification Implementation Task Force to inspect institutions and ensure they comply with the regulations, following the expiration of a three-month grace period granted to businesses and public institutions.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Monday, November 2, 2026, the NIA’s Corporate Affairs representative, William Ampomah Emmanuel Darlas, said the Authority had completed its public education and stakeholder engagement activities and was now moving into the enforcement and compliance monitoring phase.
He explained that the regulations require institutions that verify the identities of customers or applicants as part of their operations to use the NIA’s approved biometric verification platform instead of relying solely on visual inspection of the Ghana Card.
Under the new rules, institutions are prohibited from photocopying, scanning or keeping copies of the Ghana Card for identity verification purposes.
Mr Darlas stressed that simply collecting a customer’s Ghana Card, looking at the photograph and comparing it with the person presenting it would no longer be accepted as a valid method of identity verification.
He, however, clarified that the Ghana Card remains the country’s official national identity document and that citizens are not required to register for a new card or capture their biometrics again under the new regulations.
He said the new system is intended to reduce identity fraud, impersonation and other crimes by ensuring that the person presenting the Ghana Card is the actual owner.
According to him, the biometric verification process will rely on information already captured during Ghana Card registration, including fingerprints, iris details and facial features stored in the card’s chip.
Mr Darlas warned institutions against using third-party companies or individuals to access the NIA’s identity verification platform, insisting that the Authority does not work with intermediaries.
He said institutions seeking access to the National Identity Register must deal directly with the NIA and complete its official onboarding process.
The process requires institutions to prove that they are legally registered companies in Ghana, obtain certification from the Data Protection Commission and work with the NIA’s technical team to establish the necessary connection to its platform.
He further cautioned institutions already connected to the platform against subletting their access to other businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises.
He disclosed that the Authority had received reports of some institutions providing their verification services to other businesses without the NIA’s approval and warned that those involved would face legal action.
Mr Darlas said organisations that fail to comply with L.I. 2523 could face fines ranging from 500 to 2,000 penalty units, depending on the nature of the offence.
He explained that the NIA does not have the authority to impose the fines directly but would take offenders to court for the appropriate punishment.
He indicated that Institutions found guilty could also face additional administrative measures, including being barred from accessing the NIA’s verification platform in the future.
The NIA representative further clarified that the new regulations do not prohibit all institutions from physically using the Ghana Card during transactions.
The Managing Director of the Ghana Publishing Company Limited, Nana Kwesi Boatey, has revealed how he transformed a major overstaffing challenge into a success story through the government’s 24-Hour Economy initiative.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, November 2, Mr. Boatey disclosed that when he assumed office in February 2025, and inherited a bloated workforce of 250 employees doing work that could be efficiently handled by 150 people, a situation that created serious liquidity challenges for the state-owned company.
Instead of resorting to downsizing, he adopted an innovative approach by instituting a 24-hour operational system.
Under the new system, staff were redistributed across three shifts: 7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., and 10 p.m. – 4:30 a.m.
This not only ensured optimal use of labour but also maximized machine utilization and improved overall output.
According to him, the single move redefined the productivity culture within the company, reinforcing discipline, accountability, and efficiency.
The Ghana Publishing Company’s turnaround is being cited as a practical example of how the 24-Hour Economy policy can drive growth without job losses.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
