When the NDC’s National Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, appeared on UTV’s United Showbiz to discuss the party’s plans towards revamping the creative arts sector, he asserted that the industry had taken a nosedive.
His statement sparked a heated reaction from one of the panellists, MC Yaa Yeboah, who strongly disagreed and took him on.
MC Yeboah, visibly upset, refuted Gyamfi’s claim, arguing that the creative arts industry has not suffered a decline.
She instead credited the current government for making significant strides to uplift the sector, in contrast to the NDC’s tenure.
Citing the 'December in Ghana' initiative as an example, MC Yeboah highlighted how the current NPP administration has given the industry a facelift by boosting the initiative and bringing economic benefits to the country.
She also challenged Gyamfi to provide the data supporting his assertion that the creative arts industry is in shambles.
“You sit here and claim the creative arts industry is in total shambles, which is not true. Where’s the data to support that? If anything, this government has implemented several policies under the ‘December to Remember’ initiative that have uplifted the industry. You cannot say under this government, the industry has taken a nosedive because that’s just not a fact,” MC Yeboah fired back.
Towards the end of her comments, Sammy Gyamfi interjected, urging MC Yaa Yeboah to stop being defensive and pay closer attention to what he truly meant.
He clarified that his claim about the industry’s decline isn't about data but rather the visible struggles and widespread complaints from those within the sector.
Regarding MC Yaa Yeboah's assertion that the current government has done more to uplift the sector compared to the previous NDC administration, Sammy Gyamfi strongly disagreed.
He pointed to the various policies that the NDC had implemented during its tenure, which he believes have significantly benefited the creative arts industry even currently.
Addressing MC Yaa Yeboah’s claim that the ‘December in Ghana’ initiative by the current government outweighs the NDC’s contributions to the industry, Sammy Gyamfi rejected this notion, arguing that it could not be compared to the robust policies the NDC had put in place during its time in power.
“When we say something has taken a nosedive, it’s not about data. The fact is, it’s the people in the creative arts industry themselves who are saying it has taken a nosedive, not me, Sammy Gyamfi. When we talk about creative arts, it's not just about 'December to Remember.' Ghana in December has always been fun. We’ve always been a preferred destination for tourists during the holidays. It’s good that this government has given the initiative a little boost, but you can’t equate that to the establishment of a national theatre."
He further argued, “Mahama, for the first time, gave a whopping 2 million cedis to the creative arts sector. He also gave another 2 million cedis to MUSIGA. The NDC even established a ministry for creative arts, a tourism authority, and a tourism development levy.
"So, you cannot compare the 'December to Remember' initiative to what the NDC did for the sector. My sister shouldn’t be so defensive. The NDC provided cars on loans through MASLOC to creatives and even helped the old and feeble beneficiaries clear their debts. But when this government came into power, they took back all the cars from them."
Watch what ensued between them below:
Also, watch the mixed reactions from drivers and hawkers using the Flower Pot Interchange below:
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