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!”