Tourism minister, Catherine Ablema Afeku
Mrs Catherine Ablema Afeku, the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, has called on stakeholders in the creative arts sector to ready themselves to take advantage of the opportunities that abound in the sector.
She said as much as government was ready to provide them the enabling environment, they need to position themselves well for the opportunities available.
She said in the 2019 budget an amount of GHC 75 million has been allocated to the sector and for the first time in the history of the sector, they have attracted the attention of IEA, of GHC 40 million, saying it is not 100 percent loan, but 33 percent of what has been attracted was grants.
Mrs Afeku said on Thursday at the stakeholders' forum on the meaning of the 2019 budget and taxation regime for the creative sector held in Accra.
Highlighting on the achievements of the Ministry so far, she said when they assumed office there was a vacuum in the lack of appropriation and the mainstreaming of arts, tourism, and culture on the economy more so stigmatization of the sector was high.
She said her office sought to tackle four major areas that would help mainstream the arts, tourism, and culture in the country.
“In May 2017, we started with branding Ghana with the idea of ‘See, Eat, Wear and Feel Ghana’ campaign as it touched on the four sectors of the economy.”
Mrs Afeku said the movie sector was struggling and a lot of investment is needed to build the capacity and project the sector.
“We do not have the money to put Ghana as a film production destination, but we can manage to promote and showcase our talents on social media.”
On capacity building, the sector minister said, the hotel and catering school had been renovated and school resumes in January 2017, adding that two institutions of excellence would also be established to train skilled labour to manage tourism institutions.
Mrs Afeku said what was, however, lacking in the sector was data adding that more work is needed to enhance the potentials in the museums and monuments sector.
She urged stakeholders to endeavour to rewrite the culture policy which has been in its draft form since 2004 and up till now it has not be changed, saying “we need to change in order for us to have a different narrative”.
Mr Diminic Dokbilla Naab, Chief Revenue Officer, Training and Development, Ghana Revenue Authority, speaking on the topic: Ghana’s tax regime and the obligations of the creative sector practitioner, said the creative sector plays a very important role in the economy of the country.
He said Act 174 of the 1992 constitution indicates that taxes were imposed only by an act of Parliament and the GRA only applies the laws.
He said as a creative arts practitioner it was necessary to register with the GRA, file with them on their activities and disclose their income honestly.
Mr Naab urged industry players to endeavour to pay their taxes and encourage others to pay as well for the development of the sector and the country at large.
