Honorable Abla Dzifa Gomashie, native of Avoeme-Aflao in the Volta Region of Ghana, is the recent Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts in Ghana (2013-2017) a queen mother in charge of protocol in the Aflao Traditional area of Ghana, a veteran actress, producer, writer, poet and entrepreneur. Ms. Gomashie holds a Master of Philosophy (2005–2008) in African Studies, a multi-disciplinary degree from the Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, a Bachelor of Fine Arts (2000-2003) with First Class Honors from the School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana, and a Diploma in Theatre Arts (1994-1998) from the same program at University of Ghana. Her Master’s Thesis: Growing Up in a Boarder Town: A Study of Children in Aflao, Ghana, looked at socialization; the influence/effect of geographical space, socio-cultural and socio-economic activities on growing up. She completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts thesis titled: Theatre Management: A Critical Look of the Efua T. Sutherland Drama Studio and Diploma thesis titled: Theatre for Development: Family Planning Education Through Income Generating Activities.
Honorable Abla Dzifa Gomashie has a passion for the Creative Arts and Culture in Ghana and throughout Africa, and has dedicated nearly all her adult life to projecting and promoting it. As Deputy Minister, Gomashie was guided by Ghana’s Cultural Policy Document, dedicated to the realization of the Vision of the people of Ghana to respect present, harness, and use their cultural heritage and resources to develop a united, vibrant and prosperous national community with distinctive African identity and personality and a collective confidence and pride of among the comity of Nations. Ms. Gomashie has brought her wealth of experience in the creative arts to her Presidential Appointed position both within Ghana and internationally. One recent activity she fully supported was the presentation of Diema (2015) and AZA! (2016), two International collaborative productions and symposia which included Ohio University faculty, students and alumni, the National Theatre of Ghana, and its two resident companies National Dance Company of Ghana and the National Symphony Orchestra of Ghana.
Prior to her appointment as the Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Dzifa worked as the Chief Executive of Values for Life, a non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting the Creative Arts (Performing Arts) and Culture amongst the youth through Vacation Camps to unearth talents; she has produced, directed and narrated many Ghanaian television productions including the popular storytelling program, By the Fireside, where she focused on socio-cultural issues for the benefit of children. She was senior performer for the National Commission on Culture, where she assisted the chief director in various capacities at the National Commission on Culture.
As one of Ghana’s most talented performers, she was a member of the National Theatre of Ghana’s resident drama company, Abibigromma, where she performed in annual productions and at state functions as actor, singer and dancer. Ms. Gomashie was managing director of Mama’s Kitchen, a restaurant that specialized in indigenous local Ghanaian dishes and is currently a television host (2010-present) for TV Africa, which focuses on the celebration of Ghanaian male role models.
Dzifa has worked in the Creative Arts industry for nearly three decades and has received multiple administrative and artistic awards both nationally and internationally, for her work. On March 7, 2016, the City Council of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania honored and recognized the minister for her lifelong commitment to the developmental growth of Ghana through her international promotion of Ghanaian arts and culture. She has also been recognized and honored by the Ghana Union of Professional Students (GUPS) on two occasions for her enormous support and love shown to the GUPS women commission and also for her unflinching support to the student fraternity and continuous contribution to development of the youth of Ghana and the Autism Association of Ghana (ASOG), who made her their life patron, for being a source of encouragement to parents of autistic children.
Dzifa is an extremely popular personality in Ghana, and is known for her humble disposition and unyielding promotion of anything Ghanaian. Her passion is to work closely with relevant stakeholders to promote the Creative Arts and increase its contribution to Ghana’s GDP.