Government lacks vision when it comes to the creative arts sector - FOCAP president

The president of the Foundation of Concerned Creative Art Professionals (FOCAP), Kojo Preko Dankwa, has described the recently held Mid-Year Budget Review by the finance minister on July 23, 2024, as a case of a lack of vision for the creative arts sector.

Ghana's Finance Minister, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, announced that the country generated $1.8 billion from tourism in the first half of 2024, a significant increase from $1.5 billion in the same period last year.

The increase is attributed to a rise in tourist arrivals, from 500,000 in 2023 to nearly 600,000 in 2024.

He added that the government has supported this growth by enhancing tourism infrastructure and marketing, with notable projects including the redevelopment of Aburi Gardens and the Pikworo Slave Camp.

However, there was no mention of the creative arts sector during the review.

Speaking in an interview with TV3 on July 23, 2024, Kojo Preko Dankwa said that the government just doesn't take the creative arts and culture space seriously.

“There is a clear lack of vision, lack of focus, lack of attention when it comes to creative art and culture. I mean, for him to be talking about tourism indicates that the focus hasn’t always been with the ministry,” he said.

He demanded answers to what has become of the five amphitheatres that were promised to the creative arts sector.

“There were things that they did say that they were going to do for the creative arts industry mid-year. What have we done? One of them is the fact that we want to build 5 amphitheatres and in the budget, it was clear there when we were doing the budget allocation. The deputy minister came to tell us that it’s between $500,000 and $600,000 to build one amphitheatre.

“This tells you again that they are not really focused when it comes to creatives, this is where the problem is. And for me, it is something that should speak to the creativity world or the industry or the sector that this government has really lost control when it comes to creative art and culture,” he added.

ID/ ADG

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