Some artists and academics have called for increased state investment in art infrastructure and the preservation of Ghana’s cultural heritage. 

They argued that the government intervention would strengthen artistic development and secure the country’s cultural legacy for future generations.

They made the call during an art conference in Accra last Thursday to deliberate on the country's art industry.

It was organised by the Foundation for Contemporary Art (FCA) Ghana in collaboration with TRAFO Centre for Contemporary Art in Poland.

The conference formed part of the foundations’ activities for the year. Last year, the group organised an art exhibition dubbed 'One Man Does Not Rule a Nation'.

Artists, curators, students, academics, art enthusiasts and members of the public attended the event. 

Support

The Dean of the Faculty of Art of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Professor Karikacha Seidou, said Ghana had entered a “golden age of art” driven by strong individual efforts, but warned that the absence of state-backed infrastructure could undermine progress.

He argued that sustained neglect of public art and limited institutional support had threatened the growth of the sector, despite rising global recognition.

Prof. Seidou emphasised the need for more museums, galleries and institutional support to consolidate the gains, stressing that art transcended political divisions and required protection regardless of changing ideologies.

The art professor said stronger infrastructure would educate younger generations and expand opportunities for artists across the country.

Prof. Seidou explained that achievements in the sector had built on foundations laid during the era of Kwame Nkrumah and should not be credited to the present generation alone.

He added that the recognition of the Tamale-based artist, Ibrahim Mahama, who became the first African artist to top ArtReview's Power 100 list in 2025, reflected Ghana’s growing global recognition in art.

Revival

For her part, a Co-Director of the Foundation for Contemporary Art Ghana, Adwoa Amoah, highlighted the need to revisit neglected monuments and re-evaluate their relevance in contemporary Ghana.

She explained that the foundations’ exhibition in 2025 had drawn attention to a little-known monument commissioned under Kwame Nkrumah, but lost from public memory after his overthrow in 1966.

“Some monuments have vanished, and even some artists and art students remain unaware of the history behind such monuments,” she said.

Ms Amoah added that the project had sparked debate about whether such monuments should be rebuilt or replaced with new forms of public art.

She stressed that public art played a vital role in shaping national identity and civic space. 

“At the core of what art is also to generate conversation.

This gives us the platform to consider how Ghana could better support artists and maintain existing works,” the Foundation for Contemporary Art Ghana Co-Director said.

Ms Amoah stressed that such discussions around art would help redefine the role of art in society and encourage broader participation in cultural development.