Entertainment of Sunday, 25 August 2024
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
Entertainment pundit and event organiser Whitney Boakye-Mensah has voiced her disappointment with the 2024 NDC Manifesto, criticising it for neglecting the creative arts sector.
Speaking on the August 24, 2024 edition of United Showbiz, Boakye-Mensah highlighted the success of the “Year of Return” and “Beyond the Return” initiatives, which have significantly boosted Ghana’s tourism and revenue.
She expressed surprise that the manifesto did not mention these initiatives or propose any continuation, despite their importance to the creative arts community.
“I am surprised that in a manifesto such as this, there isn’t any continuation or any mention of it. Because those initiatives are where a lot of art players come in,” she said.
Boakye-Mensah argued that when it comes to the creative arts industry in Ghana, policymakers often limit their focus to performances and actors, ignoring the broader scope of the creative arts.
“I don’t know which conversations go on in the corridors of power because it is limited to just a few groups of people. So when they are drawing the policy it is not even opened up for other players to see what is in there,” she remarked.
Boakye-Mensah called for a more inclusive approach to policy-making, emphasising the need for tax incentives and support for creatives importing event items.
She called for a halt to the banters between those in power and for more practical discussions on issues affecting the creative arts sector
“Can we, as creators, stop this back-and-forth and ask ourselves what can we bring into our industry that can benefit us? Because when other sectors hold the government responsible, the speed at which the government does things for them doesn’t happen for us, and we need to change that,” she concluded.
See the video below:
Creative Arts is not limited to just performers and actors – Whitney Boakye-Mensah#UnitedShowBiz pic.twitter.com/ydWqxQ8WJz
— UTV Ghana (@utvghana) August 25, 2024
ID/SA
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