For Atlantic FM - Cape Coast Ghana, broadcast on 4.3.2013
The government has pledged its support to the Ghana music industry as it says it will help boost
employment in Ghana.
Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, was speaking at the
launch of the maiden Ghana Music Week in Accra yesterday, and told the audience of music
industry professionals that the government saw the creative arts as a wealth creator, as well as a way
to grow tourism.
She said the government would “continue to provide the needed support to bring the creative
industry on par with other sectors.”
She said President John Mahama's vision for this term – which was recently outlined in his
State of the Nation address, would see him “develop and strengthen the creative industry to enable
the county to actively engage in world trade for creative goods and services.”
As part of the vision, Mrs Ofosu-Adjare also said the government would facilitate acquiring funding
from the private sector to build a new much-needed arts venue in Ghana, which president of the
MUSIGA Bice Osei Kuffuor said was a “key necessity” to accommodate the growing Ghana music
industry.
Mr Osei Kuffuor said a new venue would be great “for the development of the music industry to
seat our numerous clients and fans who have outgrown all the entertainment venues in our country
now.”
The event organised by the Musicians Union of Ghana is taking place at the National Theatre
and will feature workshops, performances and competitions. It opened yesterday with traditional
performances from all areas in Ghana, including the Masquerade Dancers from the Central Region.
As part of the programme, on March 6 – Independence Day – 56 Ghanian artists will be performing
at the Accra Sports Stadium to celebrate 56 years of independence, and then on Saturday March 9
the week concludes with an industry awards ceremony.
