Ghana: Creative Arts Bill to be passed soon

The announcement was made public by the Ghanaian government through President Nana Akufo-Addo during his third State of the Nation Address.

“We have worked to finalise the Creative Arts Bill, leading to the setting up of the Creative Arts Fund,” he said. “For the first time, in 2018, government provided support to the Creative Arts Council and the Creative Arts Masterclass, to build the capacity of creative arts practitioners, has also commenced. The Eastern Regional Theatre has been completed and work is currently ongoing towards the construction of the Kumasi Theatre.”

The first edition of the masterclass took place in the first week of February. It will run as a monthly event by the Creative Arts Council under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.

In attendance were creative artists working in different sectors of the art business. The first edition had an artistically diverse audience and featured lessons on how to derive benefits from the digital space.

Upon its passing, the Creative Arts Bill will become a document that can assist the regulation of creative work in the arts sector. To that end, it has been much discussed and its passing eagerly awaited.

Akufo-Addo also spoke about the government’s drive to boost tourism, highlighting the importance of Ghanaian music to the cause and recalling the Year of Return, the country’s campaign to bring Africans in the diaspora closer to those on the continent.

“I would urge each one of us to make a special effort to make a visit to our country a memorable one,” he said. “Our music, our food, our clothes and the quintessential akwaaba smile will make a visitor to our country come back again and again.”