THE COORDINATOR OF THE BLACK STAR EXPERIENCE, MR. REX OWUSU MARFO AND THE DIRECTOR FOR DIASPORA AFFAIRS AT THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, MR. KOFI OKYERE DARKO, LED AN OFFICIAL DELEGATION ON A WORKING VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA. THE VISIT CULMINATED IN THE FORMAL SIGNING CEREMONY OF A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) ON ARTS AND CULTURE, ESTABLISHING A COLLABORATIVE FRAMEWORK BETWEEN THE NATIONAL ARTS COUNCIL OF SOUTH AFRICA AND THE BLACK STAR EXPERIENCE OF GHANA. THE AGREEMENT IS EXPECTED TO FOSTER CULTURAL EXCHANGES AND STRENGTHEN TIES BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES IN THE CREATIVE ARTS SECTOR.
THE SIGNING CEREMONY WAS GRACED BY SENIOR EXECUTIVES OF THE NATIONAL ARTS COUNCIL OF SOUTH AFRICA, THE GOVERNING COUNCIL, AS WELL AS OTHER KEY PLAYERS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN CREATIVE ARTS COMMUNITY. THE EVENT UNDERSCORED THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES AND THE SHARED COMMITMENT TO ENHANCE CULTURAL AND ARTISTIC COOPERATION THROUGH PROMOTION OF MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING, CROSS-CULTURAL EXCHANGE, INDUSTRIES AND TOURISM.
OTHER SENIOR OFFICIALS INCLUDED THE ACTING HEAD OF GHANA’S MISSION IN PRETORIA, MRS. CHARLOTTE DJAN, MR. GILBERT ABEIKU AGGREY (DEPUTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, GHANA TOURISM AUTHORITY), MS. ANNABELLE MCKENZIE (DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS SECRETARIAT, GHANA TOURISM AUTHORITY), MR. WISDOM AHADJI (GHANA TOURISM AUTHORITY, BOLGATANGA), MR. MATHEW MENSAH (CHIEF LIAISON OFFICER, THE BLACK STAR EXPERIENCE SECRETARIAT) AS WELL AS SOME EXECUTIVES OF GHANA FEST, SOUTH AFRICA.
