The Running Mate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has reiterated the need for the country to make the creative industry a more viable venture.
She, therefore, emphasised the resolve by the NDC to roll out programmes to support the growth of the film, music, and the creative industry to drive job creation and economic growth.
She made this call during an interactive session with stakeholders of the creative sector on Thursday, November 26, 2020.
According to her, throughout history, nations across the world have drawn their identity from writers, singers, poets, filmmakers, artists, and other creatives whose work have marked the evolution of their respective cultures, countries, and even continents.
She said “the stories that are told through the arts often become the prism through which others perceive and interact with culture and society. Therefore, we cannot underestimate or downplay the role that the arts play in developing a country.”
Naana Jane also highlighted the fact that the creative arts have become an integral part of Ghana’s digital economy, as it is heavily dependent on audio and visual material from copywriters, influencers, poets, and video and animation producers.
“We must harness the potential of this industry as part of our march into the future. The arts contribute more than $800 billion to the American economy; this is more than 4% of GDP. Even if we cannot do this here in Ghana immediately, we can make this sector more productive through pragmatic and innovative measures. If we do this right, we can provide decent and sustainable employment to so many young creative people who generate content through such fascinating ways,” she intimated.
Naana Jane added that the NDC’s People’s Manifesto has made provisions for the Ghana Association of Writers to enter into a National Writing Contest to support the promotion of the best literary works.
“Additionally, we shall promote the district, regional and national competitions in the creatives among the youth in tertiary institutions. We have talented writers, musicians, and poets who are present here and elsewhere; they possess all the skill and potential to highlight Ghana’s place on the literary map to follow the trail made possible by the likes many giants of the industry. Support from the government will be key in this regard,” she noted.
Mentioning other promises made in the manifesto, she said they will partner with the Ghana Union of Visual Arts (GUVA) and other fine art associations to purchase their finished works to furnish and decorate public offices to support the fine art businesses. This simple idea will not only provide a ready market to these associations; it will more crucially make their work more visible and help to strengthen the Ghanaian identity that gives us all inspiration.
She also said the NDC will upgrade NAFTI into a fully-fledged multimedia university for film, arts, theatre, and music.
We plan to also set up a system of legal aid for creative artistes to help fight creative or intellectual theft and plagiarism by others.
Lastly, she mentioned that they have plans to facilitate the enrollment of creative artists into an informal pension scheme. This plan is intended to cushion our creatives especially as they get older.
Ghanaians will be going to the polls on December 7, 2020, to elect its next President and parliamentarians.
Stakeholders of the creative arts industry have so far been analysing the various manifesto promises of the political parties to know which holds great fortunes for the sector.
