I am not about to pour scorn on the Mahama led Government or attempt to get it to change its policy on the Creative Arts Industry but from where I sit, I am rather saddened by the talk and lack of action on the part of government to deliver on its promises to the Creative Arts.
For many of us, the reconfigured Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Creative Arts was a welcome departure from the norm where the Creative Arts Industry was not even included in Government portfolios. Even though I believe that the addition of the Creative Arts portfolio to Tourism and Culture was misplaced and ill advised, I believe that it was a good start in recognizing the Industry for its contribution to National Development.
The challenge for many of us in the industry however, is the rather slothful progression of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts to get the Creative Arts wheel turning. Ghana is not all about tourism and culture. I dare say that culture is simply our way of life and so all Ministries embody our culture. The focus on tourism by the Ministry on Tourism is also in my opinion misplaced; in the wake of the appalling conditions at tourism centres around the country. (If our leaders have balls of steel, they will entirely scrap the Ministry of Tourism and strengthen the Ghana Tourist Authority to oversee Tourism and Culture in the Country). Now back to my subject matter!
Ghana’s Creative Arts Industry is perhaps the oldest industry we have. From the days of our forefathers, we danced, had theatre, played music, made amazing crafts and artifacts and created fine garments. The Creative Arts industry is not only dance, music and drama though. It involves a vast number of other disciplines. Fashion design, textile making, accessories design, even architecture and landscaping are all elements of the creative arts. It beats my imagination when a government promises and pays an organization huge sums of money, (MUSIGA on my mind) to promote its activities. Or am I right to say that the money pledged was not meant for one organization?