Bee Arthur Urges Overhaul of Ghana’s Tourism Sector Amid Black Star Experience Launch

Fashion icon Beatrice ‘Bee’ Arthur warns that cultural ambition must be backed by structural reform to sustain tourism gains

ISAAC KOFI TSOENAMAWU

Ghanaian fashion designer and cultural advocate and Fashion Domain Leader of the Ghana Culture Forum, Beatrice ‘Bee’ Arthur has called for a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s tourism sector, warning that the newly launched Black Star Experience will struggle to meet its goals unless long-standing infrastructure and institutional challenges are addressed.

Arthur commended the ambition behind the project but cautioned that tourism growth cannot be sustained without tackling systemic issues. “We cannot invite the world to Ghana while basic necessities and cultural infrastructure remain neglected,” she said.

Arthur cited several persistent problems that continue to impede the tourism sector’s growth, including poor transportation infrastructure, environmental degradation, and urban sanitation challenges.

“Poor road networks make travel inconvenient and limit access to cultural sites,” she noted. “The prevalence of open defecation along beaches, plastic pollution, choked gutters, and noise pollution detract from the country’s appeal to both domestic and international tourists.”

Service reliability also remains a hurdle, Arthur argued, pointing to the added costs borne by businesses due to unreliable utilities.

“Recurring electricity outages and water shortages force hotels and businesses to rely on costly generators, driving up accommodation prices and making Ghana less competitive as a tourist destination.”

Beyond physical infrastructure, Arthur drew attention to the lack of strong cultural institutions. Despite its growing reputation in the creative arts, Ghana still lacks key national platforms for curating and preserving its cultural heritage.

“Ghana still lacks a National Art Gallery, an essential institution for curating and preserving the nation’s artistic legacy.” “The National Centre for Culture, also known as the Arts Centre, remains disorganized and under-resourced, failing to serve as a coherent cultural hub.”

Arthur also reflected on the evolution of the Chale Wote Street Art Festival, a flagship cultural event that she said has drifted from its original mission.

“Once a platform for underground artists engaging with social and political themes, [the Chale Wote Street Art Festival] has increasingly become a neighborhood carnival, prioritizing entertainment over critical, socially-engaged art.”

Emphasizing the importance of aligning ambition with structural readiness, Arthur urged a multidimensional strategy to support Ghana’s cultural positioning on the global stage.

“For the Black Star Experience to realize its full potential. We need a holistic approach, one that pairs visionary programming with practical investments in infrastructure, institutional development, and a recommitment to authentic artistic expression.”

President Mahama addressing Parliament in March stated one of the core visions of the Black Star Experience, saying that “Our aim is to position The Black Star Experience as a uniquely Ghanaian tourism brand,” the president.

“The initiative will incorporate the Pan-African Month celebrations and showcase activities such as street carnivals, film week, a fashion festival, a food fair, theatrical and drama performances, concert party competitions, and monthly domestic tourism destinations.”

However, Arthur’s remarks serve as both a caution and a call to action, urging stakeholders to lay the groundwork for tourism and creativity to flourish sustainably.

The High Street Journal