It is unfortunate that I have to use legendary Ghanaian musician-Kojo Antwi’s recent wish/statement to voice out my sentiment in relation to the increase call by certain Ghanaian entertainers and Entertainment enthusiasts for the establishment of a ‘Ministry of Entertainment’ in Ghana.
The first time I heard a call or request for the government of Ghana to establish a special ministry-Ministry for Entertainment, to oversee the Entertainment sector, I thought it was one of those wild jokes.
Since then, I have listened to prominent Ghanaian entertainers and stakeholders with the latest being Kojo Antwi calling for the establishment of such a ministry on several platforms.
It seems some of these people are very serious with their request and as such, I have decided to bring to their attention that, they are simply being over ambitious and their request makes no sense considering the current welfare of the ordinary Ghanaian.
In a recent interview on Kumasi based Ultimate Radio 106.9, Kojo Antwi added his voice to the call for a Ministry of Entertainment to be established in Ghana stating that, establishing a Ministry of Entertainment is among the top three things he wishes to happen in 2013.
“What I’d like is to have a Ministry of Entertainment. I don’t think it is right that the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture oversee the entertainment sector. We need a ministry which will primarily ensure the growth of the industry”, he said.
As a Ghanaian Entertainment blogger and Editor of the biggest Ghanaian Entertainment Website-GhanaCelebrities.Com, I fully appreciate the contribution of the Entertainment industry to the Ghanaian economy and also understand the need for government to pay more attention to the sector through investments, grants and legislations.
However, to request for a whole ministry to be established for the Entertainment industry is not only derisory but it also shows that, we have misplaced our priorities as a nation.
Must we have a Ministry for every developing sector of our economy? What is wrong with the current Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture overseeing the entertainment sector?
Ghana is a country where thousands of people lack basic social and healthcare amenities. Even finding a bottle of clean drinking water in certain parts of Ghana can be a task of a decade. Yet, people with influence are not calling for Ministry of Clean Drinking Water, Ministry of Malaria, Ministry of the Poor[i] and more importantly Ministry of ‘Common Sense’.
Must we intentionally misplace our priorities as a nation to better ourselves or the sectors we find ourselves to the detriment of those who really need the available help? That is exactly what those who are calling for a Ministry of Entertainment are doing…
As mentioned above, I perfectly appreciate the contribution and growth of the Ghanaian Entertainment sector but we should still not forget that, entertainment is luxury.
In Ghana, we have far important problems and pressing needs that require far more attention that our Entertainment Industry.
If in a developed country like the United States of America where the Video Game Industry alone in 2009 contributed a whooping $4.9 billion to the U.S. economy has not even established such special ministries for its Entertainment sectors, what do you think people will say about our priorities as a third world country if we continue with such a claptrap call?
The roads in Ghana are choked with children selling all manner of products and no one is calling for Ministry of Stop Child Labour, instead we want to prioritize luxury-Entertainment over the basic things that will determine our future and well being.
If there is the need for the establishment of a new ministry in Ghana, it is surely not ‘Ministry of Entertainment’, rather, a ministry that will ensure the ‘galloping’ corruption ends, taxes are correctly paid and the lives of the ordinary citizens are well improved.
Chris don’t even bother ursrlf i bey. some pple are jokes papa
Chris, these people are greedy bastards and all their butts will show. We live in a country where people can’t even afford to go to the hospital. we have communities with no clinics and these people say ministry of entertainment? nkwasiasem
@Yaa, Sometimes I wonder if we really have priorities as a nation!
Chris i feel u wai!this is absolute crap!its just another bunch of greedy people looking fr their own selfish interests..we have more pertinent issues which need to b solved and not this entertainmnt ministry crap!
Say again oh Yaa
I also took it initially as a joke….not knowing some people were pretty serious about it. I guess the government could think of setting up such a ministry after it has finally solved the more vital problems(quality and affordable education plus healthcare, clean drinking water, constant energy supply…) the people are facing.
Chris what is the point in seting up ministry of entertainment, to look for grants and loans, etc? we can have a sector head under the current set up – Chieftancy and Culture, to develope and drive strategies to achieve objectives. strategies should be convincing and achievable. we appreciate the industry as u said but not a ministy on its own, naaaaaa.
Same way I think…Glad a lot of you guys share the same sentiment!
Who gives a damn abt entertainment in Ghana. How about department of children services. Ministry for de poor. Ministry to stop sakawa. Ministry of witches and hoes.
Min of Entertainment, sure, why not? We might as well add ministry of latrine, or ministry of chale wotte since many Ghanaians walk a long stretch as part of their daily bustle. We have too many stupid people who also incidentally have opinions – that’s our poverty.