‘Find money and allocate it to the creative arts industry!’

Entertainment commentator MC Yaa Yeboah, has lamented what she sees as neglect of the creative arts sector by the government over a lack of support for the Black Star Experience, especially the lack of budgetary allocation.

Speaking on United Showbiz on September 13, 2025, Yaa Yeboah cited comments by presidential staffer and Black Star Experience coordinator Rex Omar concerning the initiative.

In a recent conversation on GhanaWeb’s “X Spaces,” Omar had stated that two years would be required to begin seeing substantial progress in implementing the scheme.

He also emphasised that existing programs in the creative arts

would be “built upon and emphasised.”

MC Yaa Yeboah responded by questioning whether the creative arts sector is being taken seriously, citing the absence of funding and events this year.

She asked whether anything had been done to revive the Chale Wote Festival, a key anchor event in Ghana’s cultural calendar.

“This year, have we seen anything about the Chale Wote festival? Is it that they don’t take the creative arts sector seriously? These are the things that the opposition will use against the NDC,” she said.

Highlighted that Ghana has received international recognition through prior initiatives, especially the Year of Return, and warned that failure to keep up could result in loss of global interest and advantage.

She noted there appears to have been no budget allocation for Black Star Experience for 2025, despite plans for monthly creative events.

“We have seen Ghana being mentioned on major international platforms. Right now, the world knows us. So if we don’t remain consistent, we will lose our lead.

“So, how are we ok saying that for the entire year, there was no budget allocation? Meanwhile, we had planned an event every month of the year. Because, as it stands now, we don’t even know what we are doing this December,” she added.

She appealed directly to President John Dramani Mahama to ensure that the Creative Arts Secretary receives adequate funding, saying that national pride and consistency depend on it.

“I’m appealing to the president, if not for anything, for the sake of national pride, they should find money for the creative arts secretary. Even if they have to reallocate the budget.

“If not, all the money and time we invested into the Year of Return initiative will go to waste,” she said.

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