The Ghana Investment Promotion Authority (GIPA) is seeking to position cultural infrastructure as a new investment opportunity, beginning with efforts to attract capital for the proposed 5,000-seater Black Star Cultural Arena in Accra.
The proposed arena at Kawukudi is part of the government’s Black Star Experience initiative and is expected to host concerts, festivals, conferences, exhibitions and international cultural events.
GIPA Chief Executive Officer Simon Madjie said the Authority is ready to help the National Commission on Culture (NCC) structure viable investment opportunities and connect them with potential investors through its investment promotion platforms.
The move comes as Ghana’s tourism industry provides a growing economic base for investment in attractions and supporting infrastructure. Ghana recorded 1,306,962 international tourist arrivals in 2025, up 1.4% from 2024. International tourism receipts stood at US$4.34 billion in 2025.
A modern venue capable of hosting large-scale cultural and business events could therefore create opportunities beyond ticket sales, including hotels, restaurants, transport, event management, advertising, security and other services linked to visitor spending.
NCC Director-General Wakefield Wisdom Ackuaku said cultural infrastructure could create jobs, increase tourism and support growth across the creative, hospitality and related sectors.
The government has already identified infrastructure as a constraint to developing the creative economy. Its 2025–2029 economic programme calls for the modernisation of existing cultural centres, construction of new performance facilities and greater commercialisation of Ghana’s cultural assets.
GIPA’s engagement with the NCC could open a new pipeline of investment opportunities in Ghana’s cultural sector, with the Black Star Cultural Arena providing a potential anchor for growth in tourism, hospitality, entertainment and the wider creative economy.
