100 days achievements on Tourism, Arts & Culture a real fiction – Kojo Preko Dankwa

Host of Kasapa Entertainment on Kasapa 102.5Fm, Kojo Preko Dankwa has said the Akufo-Addo administration’s first 100 days achievements in Tourism, Arts and Culture sector seems unconvincing.

According to him, the achievements listed under the Arts and Culture were weightless to be talked about.

Read the full statement below:

The NPP government last Monday (Easter holidays) decided to trumpet it’s achievements chalked under 100 days in power. Prior to the 100 days trumpeting, budget was read and a some sectors were so excited about it because to them their dream had come through. The Budget on Tourism, Arts and Culture was shallow to me I was looking forward for how much it will cost for the establishment of the theatres across the country and when the project will commence.

One thing I found very interesting was the Accra Marine Drive Tourism Investment Project to be established this year, 2017 . In 2016 on World Tourism Day, the Former Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Elizabeth Ofosu Adjare had announced and set up a 13 member Osu Tourism Development Committee as part of the preparation for the project. However, work on the project did not begin before the Mahama Government was voted out.

My take on the 100 days achievements in the area of creative arts is very disappointing. The creative arts sector still cannot find a good place into the bosom of governments/governance. With all the 103 achievements chalked by the NPP, under real sector achievements under (Cultural and Tourism) the NPP was able to tell (Creative Arts) that they “Established Creative Arts Council” l’m so sad and cannot fathom why this should be an achievement that we should be clapping for.

How many times do we have to create “Creative Arts council” in this country? September 24th 2016 headline ” Tourism Minister inaugurates interim creative Arts council”- The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts has inaugurated an interim creative Arts council to support regulate the industry.

The council would help the ministry to fashion out appropriate policies and administrative structures that can propel the growth of the industry as a major pillar for socio- economic advancement. Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu Adjare speaking at the inauguration said the objective of the council was to assist the ministry to facilitate the establishment and management of the creative industry scheme- (Ghana Business News)

The creation of Arts Council maybe has become an immortal being who faints, dies and resurrects. The above (I stand to be corrected) means there is a council called Arts Council and the team to run the council (interim) was inaugurated. The committee was drawn from MUSIGA, Ghana Book Publishers Association, Association of Visual Artist, Actresses Association of Ghana , Copy Ghana and Ghana Fashion Designers Association. We call this an achievement because we have again inaugurated another creative Arts council.

“Okraku Mantey, Akufo- Addo’s daughter appointed to creative Arts council”

Mark Okraku Mantey, music producer and programmes manager of Hitz fm has been appointed by the minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture to head the new creative Arts council. Mr mantey would lead the council which was inaugurated wednesday by Catherine Afeku as it’s president ….. Also appointed to the council is Gyankroma Akuffo Addo, daughter of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and actress Bibi Bright who will serve as Secretary.

The three member team, according to minister, would select the rest of the council’s members and also set up the right framework for the council. The team’s duty is basically to see to the revision, ratification and implementation of the creative Arts Bill and it’s passage into law.

My question is what is the difference between the two committees formed under different governments? Members still coming from the associations that formed the previous one. Why are we joking with the industry and pretending the creative arts is moving forward.

I know very well government has a 4 year mandate and yes we cannot judge it under 100 days but it’s an ‘insult’ to the creative arts industry when we are being used and lip service is the hallmark to help the industry. I’m disappointed in our first 100 days. Let’s play our watchdog role very and make sure we put government on its toes to really make the sector grow.

On Easter Monday, April 17, the Vice President, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia disclosed that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government has made 103 achievements within its first 100 days in office.

The event was organised to mark President Akufo-Addo’s first 100 days in office.

Culture and Tourism

#Established a Safety Audit Unit at the Ghana Tourism Authority to conduct safety audits across tourist sites.

#Established the Creative Arts Council.

#Launched the Presidential Museum at the Christiansborg Castle.