John Dramani Mahama has announced that renovation works on the State Banquet Hall will commence this year as part of broader efforts to strengthen Ghana’s infrastructure for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE).

Delivering his State of the Nation Address (SoNA) in Parliament on Friday, February 27, 2026, the president said the facility, which has long been used for presidential dinners, diplomatic receptions and state ceremonies, has been closed for several years due to structural and maintenance challenges and will now undergo refurbishment.

He also revealed that the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) will be restored to its former status as the country’s premier conference venue, with renovation works expected to begin in the coming weeks following a structural integrity assessment by the original contractors.

Beyond conference infrastructure, the president pledged support for content creation and new media as job-creation avenues and committed to serving as an ambassador for tourism, culture and the creative arts.

Plans are underway, in partnership with the private sector, to develop a new convention and creative events centre to position Ghana as West Africa’s leading hub for major events.

In the 2026 budget, government has also allocated ₵20 million each to the National Film Authority (NFA) and the Creative Arts Agency (CAA), while refurbishment of the National Theatre of Ghana is set to begin in the next few weeks.

The measures form part of a wider strategy to boost tourism, culture and the creative economy as drivers of national growth.