Abeiku Santana Deputy CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority
Deputy CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Abeiku Santana, has defended the government following claims that the creative arts sector was ‘snubbed’ in the 2025 budget.
According to him, the sector was not abandoned or left without any resources in 2025.
In comments made during an interview on Okay FM on September 16, 2025, Santana noted that although the 2025 budget may not explicitly include a full allocation for the creative arts, he pointed out that offices such as the Black Star Experience secretariat and the Creative Arts Agency are actively planning events.
“Just because the president said an allocation is going to be made for the creative arts doesn’t mean no money was spent on the body this year.
“We are spending. A lot of things are going on. Look at the Black Star Experience; they are moving around, getting things in motion. There is funding for that. The creative arts agency is also moving around, planning things out. So there is some funding for all that,” he said.
According to him, the budgetary allocation promised by President John Dramani Mahama for the sector in the 2026 Budget refers to when a full timeline is released and the specific sums required are known.
“What the budget will be for is when they finally release a proper timeline of events. Then the amount needed will be given to them. That is what the President meant by a budgetary allocation will be made next year.
“So things are going on; it’s not like the sector was abandoned or there was no money for it. I’m urging people to be patient and trust the process,” Santana said.
He called on creatives and the public at large to show patience and confidence in the process, assuring them that structures and funding would follow.
President Mahama, during his meeting with the media, had earlier pledged that allocations would be made in the next fiscal budget to support film, music, and the broader creative industries.
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