Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MoTAC), has asked institutions under the Ministry to demonstrate creativity and innovativeness for their sustainable development.

They should explore avenues to enhance their internally-generated funds in order to complement the government’s efforts in running those institutions.

“We should run these entities as business. If we do not run them as a business we can never succeed.

“Let us change the model. The old paradigm should change to a new paradigm,” he stated, and entreated managers of the MoTAC institutions to demonstrate business acumen to bring money to their fold.

Dr. Mohammed Awal, who was on a tour of MoTAC establishments in Kumasi, stressed that the government was committed to creating the needed jobs along the value chain of the activities of the sub-sectors.

“If we do not know how to make money we cannot employ people,” he observed.

The Minister, accompanied by his Deputy, Mr. Mark Okraku-Mantey, Mr. Akwasi Agyemang, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Mr. Ekow Sampson, a GTA Official, and some officers of the sub-sectors of MoTAC, said the right thing ought to be done.

Establishments visited by the delegation included the Ashanti Regional Offices of the GTA, Centre for National Culture (CNC), Ghana Museums and Monuments Board (GMMB), Kumasi Zoological Gardens, amongst others.

Currently, the GMMB Office is in a dilapidated state as the wooden structure housing its administrative activities is almost collapsed.

At the CNC, the Minister expressed worry at the poor nature of some of the facilities, which are plagued with broken chairs, worn-out roofing and tattered amenities.

Dr. Mohammed Awal, who looked saddened by the development, gave three months ultimatum to the Managers to submit to the Ministry a comprehensive business and maintenance plan to change things for the better.

He admonished the authorities to heed to the directive since his outfit would not countenance lukewarm attitude to work.

Mr. Peter King, the CNC Public Relations Officer (PRO), said the facility built in 1951, was the first of its kind to be established in the West African sub-Region.

The purpose of the visit was to promote culture and heritage within the African context.