THE entertainment industry in Ghana has seen tremendous growth over the last couple of years as seen in the increasing number of entertainment options open to patrons of all ages.
If the number of events organized in December of 2010 alone is anything to go by, then one can confidently say that the entertainment industry is well on its way to stating a case for itself to be recognised not only in Ghana but across the sub-region.
The time for the entertainment industry to come into its own is far past but the seeming lack of interest in this industry has left professionals with little choice but to send a loud shout to the “powers that be” that “we are here also!”
Perhaps the “powers that be” would rather entertainers take to the streets “Egypt style” to demand attention. For so long resourcing the entertainment industry has been left entirely to the private sector. Event organizers break their backs each year walking from door-to-door with proposals in hand searching for interested sponsor to ride on their platform. Woe onto an organizer if they are unable to bag a “big spender” to sponsor the event. Those who manage to interest a sponsor or two who is willing to ride on the programme, have to bend down real low to accommodate their every requirement which often leads to over branding of such events. After all the sponsor has products to sell and the event platform is better than many.
Then there is the venue challenge which saw event organizers butting heads and jostling for dates and the few available venues in December. An event like the Ghana Music Awards Festival has long since outgrown all the indoor venues available in Ghana. Contrary to what some will say, the GMA is not over subscribed, the venue that is woefully inadequate.
The largest venue in Ghana presently is the Dome which sits 3000 people. The Conference Center follows with a capacity of 1700 followed by the National Theatre that sits 1450 people comfortably. With numbers like this, is it any wonder why most events feel over subscribed?
Any event organizer that moves away from these three venues will be looking at outdoor venues like the stadium (mind you, one is not allowed to use the green pitch for concerts because the grass suffers and no way should football suffer for a concert in Ghana) and the logistical requirement to this venture is absurd to say the least.
Well one can also consider the Independence Square if one has the financial backing to cordon off the area and recreate a slice of heaven while at the same time negotiate a deal with the heaven to keep the rains at bay till the end of the event.
For all the contributions to the economy and the reduction in unemployment through engaging young people in profitable ventures, it too much for entertainers to ask for a venue that is specially designed for large entertainment events with stage and other facilities to allow artistic expressions?
One wonders why the Government has not seen the entertainment industry for what it is worth all these years. True Ghana has oil now and this is expected to generate extensive revenue for the countries economy but has anyone stopped to consider what huge potential the country has been sitting on all these years in the arts and entertainment industry in Ghana?
Arts and entertainment was here in Ghana long before the oil find and one dare say, that it will remain long after the stores of oil is depleted. The time to look at growing the industry to the level it needs to be is here and now. Giant strides in the music industry, that has seen brilliant talents and excellent musical productions, are complimented by exciting development in the movie industry. Ghanaian movies producers have put on their ‘A’ game the result are some really inspiring works that makes one proud to be Ghanaian.
The theatre industry which was all but dead in the 90’s and early 2000’s has been revived much to the delight of theatre professionals who spent the better part of the last decade bemoaning the seeming lack of interest in theatre arts. Finally the many graduates that are churned out of the School of Performing Arts in a year can look forward earning a living from their talent rather than joining the queue for employment into one bank or the other.
The Ghana music Awards festival is just around the corner, one can only imagine the frantic efforts being made my organizers to interest sponsors in this one event that truly celebrates creativity in the entertainment industry Is it not time for the Government to lend a hand to celebrate the arts? Our traditional Festivals and cultural expressions are dying a slow and very painful death, is anyone listening and watching?
