President of the Foundation of Concerned Arts Professionals (FOCAP), Kojo Preko Dankwa, has strongly criticised the Member of Parliament of Tolon, Habib Iddrisu, for his recent comments during the vetting of Deputy Minister of Agriculture-designate, John Dumelo.
Iddrisu has been under fire from some industry personalities and netizens on social media after he advised Dumelo, a former actor, to focus on his role as he was “no longer in the movie industry” and that he should be “as serious as he can.”
However, speaking in an interview with GhanaWeb’s Isaac Dadzie on February 26, 2025, Dankwa described the MP’s remarks as ignorant, disrespectful, and insulting to the creative arts industry.
“Frankly speaking, the MP has clearly shown ignorance. He has clearly shown disrespect. He shouldn’t forget that he’s sitting there talking into a microphone, which is a product of creativity. The clothes he’s wearing were made by a creative. Without creatives, he would have gone naked,” Dankwa stated.
He emphasised the vital role creatives play in society and demanded that the MP apologises for his comments.
“It was very insulting for him to say what he said. He should apologise to the industry. We are not going to sit down for anybody to use any language on us,” Dankwa added.
Dankwa also called for a shift in the perception of creatives in Ghana, arguing that such outdated views have been disadvantageous to the sector for too long.
“The narrative needs to change. We’ve held onto the old perception that becoming a lawyer or doctor is more important than being a creative. Little do we know that creatives are among the most important people in our lives,” he said.
He urged creatives to take charge of their narrative and advocate for their value in nation-building.
“If we as creatives begin to tell our own stories correctly, we can rewrite the history of creatives in this space. Unfortunately, many of us are still waiting for someone else to do it for us. It has to start now, or we’ll pass the same outdated perceptions to our children,” Dankwa emphasised.
The comments have reignited discussions about the value of creatives in Ghana, with many calling for greater recognition and support for the industry.
ID/AE
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Also watch Mikki Osei Berko’s interview on Talkertainment below:
