Prominent actress and entrepreneur Akofa Edjeani has made a call for a “serious” session of deliberation to identify qualified individuals to lead the creative arts sector under the leadership of Ghana’s new President, John Dramani Mahama.
She said appointees to various creative arts offices in government should be people who have demonstrated an understanding of the power of the creative arts to reduce unemployment and foster the welfare of citizens.
Ms Edjeani said advocated a “rebranding” of the creative arts sector, also.
She spoke to Lexis Bill on Joy FM.
“This time around, we should have a round table discussion – a serious one – and set things straight. Let’s reset and rebuild as the president is saying. If he is serious about that, then he should put in place, the right people who understand the impact, the socio-economic landscape that the arts bring, the rebranding, the tangible and the intangible things that we bring to the fore and how it can bring about growth in terms of employment and growth in terms of wellness,” the award-winning actress and filmmaker said.
She admonished this was part of building “a firm foundation before we start putting the structures up, otherwise, things are going to be falling apart like we have been doing all these years”.
The I Sing of a Well star noted how arts and culture improve cohesion and patriotism.
“Film and theatre are very important to the growth of any nation, so we should prioritise the creative sector. We need to do this. It is how you set your foundation right because without culture you are nothing. That is the soul of any nation. But most times we are detached from it. We put arts and culture somewhere else and we are at another place – it doesn’t work that way,” she said.
Since his swearing-in on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, Ghana has awaited President John Mahama’s ministerial appointments. The creative arts industry has speculated on actress and Ketu South MP Abla Dzifa Gomashie, musician and music executive Rex Omar, actor and Ayawaso West Wuogon MP John Dumelo, and multimedia entrepreneur Baba Sadiq Abdulai Abu getting appointments at the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture, and related offices.
