The Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has pledged to establish a fund for ageing creatives if he wins the 2024 presidential elections.
On Friday, June 7, 2024, at a policy forum for stakeholders in the creative arts business, he made this commitment at the AH Hotel in Accra.
He claims that he has always cared about the welfare of creatives, which is why he frequently donates to them in the entertainment industry.
Thus, John Mahama hinted that he plans to implement more potent measures in order to maintain and magnify this gesture.
“We’ll establish the Ageing Artists Fund formally. This is my selfish, avaricious, and personal [commitment] since it will relieve me of the responsibility for the ones I am currently taking care of. In my opinion, a portion of that load ought to fall on the state. To help the elderly artists, we will establish a fund and identify the indigenous artists who would benefit from it. With this money, we will be able to provide them with food and medicine. Thus, we will formalise the establishment of the Ageing Artists Fund,” he said.
The former president claimed that while creatives are the most prosperous and successful people in other parts of the world, this is not the case in Ghana.
“The creative arts have the potential to generate millions of jobs and are a very important industry.” Many of our young people who are sitting at home are talented, but they don’t have any opportunities to showcase their abilities. Therefore, many of our young people would have prospects if we can establish the creative business on solid ground,” he said.
Prior to the manifesto’s release, he discussed other tactics they want to employ in order to advance the sector should they be reelected to power.
Below are 22 of them captured by Puretvonline.com:
(1). To make budgetary allocation for the creative arts
(2) Declare the Golden Age of Culture, Arts and Tourism, an overarching policy for the sector: where there will be actions and modules to promote job creation and entrepreneurship. Under this will be the BlackStar Experience, which will be one of the sub-themes to imbue Africanism in Ghanaians and encourage people to come from all over the world to see our arts, tourism and culture.
(3). Renovate Centres of Arts and Culture in the various regions.
(4). To streamline copyright modalities and IP Laws
(5). There will be film festivals where Ghanaian films will be exhibited.
(6) They will also organise arts exhibitions, music shows, fashion programmes
(7) There will be special focus on drama and theatre arts: playwrights will be supported to exhibit their plays
(8) Creatives to attend international trade fairs to exhibit Ghanaian culture and arts.
(9) To pursue the dream of establishing a film village, get equipment at low cost for film makers.
(10) To rehabilitate the National Theatre in Accra and build a second National Theatre in Kumasi.
(11) To acquire a special event channel for the creative arts programmes on digital terrestrial television (DTT), provide a technology that will make that show payable, so people will pay to watch.
(12) To give special rates for performances at Blackstar Square, Accra International Conference Centre and other venues owned by the government.
(13) Encourage the teaching of music and arts in the curriculum: provide trained teachers for such subjects.
(14) Introduce tax breaks for creative artists who have Tax Identification Numbers (TIN).
(15) Formalise a fund for aging artistes.
(16) Revive the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFAC)
(17) In partnership with the private sector, develop all the tourist sites
(18) Revive the Marine Drive Project
(19) Provide Amusement Parks
(20) Review the tourism fund, make sure it benefits the various stakeholders in the tourism value chain
(21) Build a new city on the banks of the Volta Region with facilities that will generate arts activities and boost tourism.
(22) Hold annual stakeholders dialogue with people in the Creative Arts.