No government’s promises to the creative arts industry have ever been fulfilled – FIPAG PRO
The location meant for the Kumasi Film Theatre has been taken over by grasscutters, according to Peter Ekpe Mawuli, also known as Abro, Director of Communications for the Film Producers Association of Ghana (FIPAG). He also criticized successive governments for the industry’s difficulties.
The lack of representation of the entertainment industry in the 2021-2022 budget declaration has prompted some showbiz personalities to challenge the administration.
Abro in an interview with Onua FM’s Christian Agyei Frimpong on the Anigye Mmere show said that successive governments do not take the art seriously. He noted that no government has kept pledges made to the creative arts industry since the late President Jerry John Rawlings’ administration.
“Since the days of President Rawlings, no promise made by politicians to the creative art practitioners has been fulfilled. Name just that they’ve done. Some of these things politicians do provoke us into anger. We often keep our cool because of the position we hold”, Abro stated
He further bemoaned that “Apart from Accra, we don’t have any theatre in the country. The NDC government promised to raise the cultural centre in Kumasi to an ultra-modern standard, but it never came to pass. Likewise, the NPP also tried doing something about it. Up until now, it’s hanging”
The Film Producers Association of Ghana Director also claimed that Babra Oteng Gyasi, the former Minister of Tourism, Art and Culture, and Mark Okraku Mantey, the current Deputy Minister of Tourism, Art and Culture, came to Kumasi promising a movie theatre but were unable to deliver. Now, the proposed land site is overgrown with grass and wild animals have taken over.
“We were here when Honourable Babra Oteng Gyasi met us at Golden Bin Hotel. They showed us the proposed site for the Kumasi movie theatre. Now grasscutters have taken over the place”, adding “It is very bushy. If you come to Kumasi, I will show you the place, come and set a trap at that place. We will get more grasscutters there. I’m counting on Honourable Mark Okraku Mantey to do something for us because he knows our problems, “Peter Ekpe Mawuli added.
Source: Richard Mensah Adonu | Join our Telegram Group
