Ghanaian musician Okyeame Kwame and actor Prince David Osei are some of the people chosen to put together provisions for the manifesto of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
They are members of the party’s arts, culture, and tourism subcommittee, which is chaired by Juliet Yaa Asantewaa Asante, executive secretary of the National Film Authority (NFA), and Akwasi Agyemang, CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA).
The other members are Claudia Lumor, the founder of the Glitz Style Awards, Dr. Ama Boafo-Arthur, Professor Issahatu Adam, and Catherine Abelema Afeku, a former minister of tourism, arts, and culture.
The others are Festus Frimpong Gyebi, Eric Owusu Akreso, Dr. Ackah Kwame Nyameke, Radia Adama Saani, Yaa Pokua Baiden, Kwaku Osei Korankye Asiedu (KOKA), and Nana Yaw Manteaw.
Stakeholders in the cultural and creative sectors have higher expectations, thus this group has to come up with solutions that will benefit the industry more.
Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential candidate, has already promised to give online platforms for Ghanaian artists and entertainers.
He made this comment on February 7, 2024, at a lecture titled “Ghana’s Next Chapter: Selfless Leadership and Bold Solutions for the Future” at Accra’s University of Professional Studies.
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He vowed to make “tourism and the creative arts a growth pole in Ghana” by implementing initiatives like as digital and streaming platforms for artists.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) made a similar statement in its 2020 manifesto addressing the creative industry.
According to the NPP, a digital platform would be developed to enable artists to market their works on a global basis.
Dr. Bawumia also promised to elaborate on December in Ghana’s Year of Return, Beyond the Return, during his speech.
He went on to imply that creatives should pay less in taxes.
“Film producers and musicians will also be provided with tax incentives,” he said.
Finally, Dr. Bawumia, Ghana’s current vice president, said that his government would implement an electronic visa program, allowing foreign citizens to get Ghanaian visas in minutes after clearing security and criminal background checks. This strategy aims to boost tourism and generate employment in Ghana.
Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer, has come under fire from creative sector players for failing to keep certain commitments.
The NPP intended to establish theaters in Kumasi, Takoradi, and Tamale, as well as the Creative Arts Fund to help artists, however none of these plans have come to fulfillment.
In addition, the NPP has promised to create large recording studios in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, and Takoradi in conjunction with the private sector, “because our artistes do not have the capital to set up studios.” This would be on the entrepreneurial hub’s agenda. Musicians may schedule time in these facilities to record their songs. Furthermore, the promise has not been honored.
Lastly, the Ghana Trade Fair Company property in La, where a conference and exposition center was supposed to be built, is still unfinished.
