Information reaching GhanaCelebrities.Com suggests that the government of Ghana did not budget for the creative art industry in its 2014 fiscal budget.
Government for the first time made an allocation of GH¢2 million in the 2012 budget for the creative industry under the tenure of Ghana’s late President, Prof. Evans Fiifi Atta Mills. Disagreement erupted after it emerged that only members of the musicians union accessed the funds.
Following the disagreements over the money, President John Dramani Mahama, speaking at a meeting with selected members of the creative industry at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Kumasi ahead of the 2012 general elections, promised to increase government’s budgetary allocation to the sector in order that many will benefit.
He said, “I am just assuring that we are going to make another budgetary allocation more than the amount [that was given] and you have to collectively come out with a blue print for investing it in the best way that will serve our purpose.”
True to Government’s promise, the Finance Minister, Seth Terkper, presenting the 2013 budget to parliament, announced that the government has allocated an amount of GH¢3 million to better the lot of the industry: “the creative arts industry will be supported with GH¢3 million in 2013,” he said.
It was reported that government budget for the creative art industry in its 2014 fiscal budget, however, 8 months gone by, GhanaCelebrities.Com gathers that government did not budget for the creative arts industry for the year 2014 – as we were made to believe.
According to our source “what the minister read in parliament is usually called policy direction to the budget. Whenever budget is read in Parliament, it does not mean that all the items mentioned have been costed. They are just policy direction to the budget.
“In the master budget of the finance ministry, there is no figure allocated specifically for the creative arts industry so if you guys in the creative arts industry or showbiz are waiting for any money like the 2 million you once received, you wait in vein! There is no money for you!”
Some weeks back when GhanaCelebrities.Com interacted with the PRO of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Mr. Prince Boakye-Boateng, he was economical with information. “I don’t work in the account section so I’m not in the position to tell you whether the money government budgeted for the ministry has been released or not but I know the government budgeted for the ministry.”
Last year, government budgeted GHC 3M for the creative art sector but the finance ministry did not release it. Early this year, host of Channel R’s entertainment programme – ‘205 Total Entertainment,’ Christian Adjei-Frimpong, asked Mr. Boakye if the government released the GHC 3M it budgeted for the creative art sector for 2013.
In response, Mr. Boakye said “I can say on authority that government did not release the GHC 3M it promised the creative art sector. As at 31st December, 2013, the money had not been released. However, the government has promised another budget for the sector come 2014.” GhanaCelebrities.Com is still following up on the government’s budget allocation to the creative arts. Until then…MOTWUM!!