Deputy Chief Executive of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Abeiku Santana, has rejected suggestions that the 2025 national budget ignored the creative arts sector.
Speaking on Okay FM on September 16, 2025, Santana clarified that while no specific line item was outlined in the budget, several agencies under the sector are already carrying out projects that have received financial support.
“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 cannot claim that we have not spent any money in the sector, that’s not true. We are spending and there are a lot of things 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 explained.
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He emphasized that President John Dramani Mahama’s assurance of a budgetary allocation in 2026 refers to the release of a comprehensive program and the financial estimates needed to deliver it.
“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 further assured stakeholders that funding for film, music, and other creative industries will be prioritized once the 2026 fiscal budget is rolled out.
