Dr. John Apea, popularly known as Junior from the iconic Ghanaian TV series Home Sweet Home, has expressed concern over the lack of structure in Ghana’s creative arts industry.
The award-winning actor and entrepreneur noted that the absence of a well-structured market in the sector is hindering its potential contribution to the country’s GDP.
Speaking in a one-on-one interview with Afia Owusu, Dr. Apea pointed out that in the Western world, the concept of “show business” is taken seriously, with equal emphasis on both the entertainment and financial aspects.
“The creative arts sector is not structured well. We don’t have a proper market system that contributes significantly to the GDP,” he stated.
“What people often forget is that in the West, the industry is called ‘show business’ for a reason. There’s the show aspect, and then there’s the business. It generates as much money as the financial and political sectors — it’s all business.”
Reflecting on his journey into the arts, Dr. Apea revealed that he entered the creative space by chance but quickly developed a passion for it. His appreciation for the business side of the industry eventually led him to explore scriptwriting and production.
“I stumbled into acting by accident, but I ended up enjoying the opportunity. Over time, I began to look at the business side of things, which led me into writing and producing as well,” he said.
