Statement :President Mahama’s Remarks about the Creative Sector not encouraging – FOCAP

At the recent media briefing on the State of the Nation, His Excellency President Mahama admitted what we, as creatives, have always known: the creative sector is one of the fastest-growing employers of talent in Ghana. He further promised that allocations will be made to the sector in the next national budget.

The Foundation Of Concerned Art Professionals (FOCAP) welcomes this recognition, but we must ask the critical question on behalf of every musician, filmmaker, fashion designer, performer and cultural entrepreneur:

If the creative sector is truly this vital, why was it not prioritized and resourced in his very first year in office?

Ghana is not only the land of gold, cocoa and oil. We are the Black Star of Africa, a nation whose creativity shines brighter than any resource underground. Our music is heard across continents, our fashion graces global runways, our film and theatre shape narratives and our festivals attract thousands of visitors each year. The creative sector does not only tell our story — it creates jobs, fuels tourism and places Ghana firmly on the global stage.

Yet, despite this power, our sector continues to suffer from underfunding and neglect in national planning and development.

Around the world, the Orange Economy — the global term for creative and cultural industries — has proven its value. In Latin America alone, it contributes billions of dollars annually to GDP, creates millions of jobs and has become a strategic pillar for development. Why should Ghana, with its wealth of talent and cultural capital, lag behind?

FOCAP is clear: Acknowledgment without action is not progress. We cannot celebrate rhetoric while policies and budgets remain slow to respond. For the creative sector to reach its potential, there must be:

Sustained budget allocation — not one-off promises.

Creative infrastructure investment — theatres, studios, performance spaces.

Policy reforms that protect intellectual property and support creative entrepreneurs.

Public-private partnerships that scale Ghana’s cultural exports.

The youth are ready. The talent is abundant. The world is already watching Ghana. What is missing is the bold political will to invest and transform our creative energy into economic power.

FOCAP therefore calls on all stakeholders — government, private sector, development partners, and the Ghanaian public — to treat the creative economy as a frontline sector, not an afterthought.

If Ghana is to truly live up to its name as the Black Star, then we must invest in the sector that makes us shine.

This is not the time for promises — this is the time for action, urgency and accountability.

FOCAP invites all creatives, industry stakeholders, and citizens to join us in demanding urgent investment in the creative sector. Together, let’s amplify the call until words become policy and policy becomes action.

Hashtags:
#FOCAPAdvocacy
#OrangeEconomy
#InvestInCreatives
#BlackStarPower

Signed,
Kojo Preko Dankwa
President FOCAP

Mel Kwesi Davis
Vice President FOCAP

Enoch Agyepong
Vice President, Research.
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