Entertainment pundit and event organizer, Whitney Boakye-Mensah, recently voiced her dissatisfaction with the NPP manifesto, criticizing it for lacking significant and innovative policies for the creative arts sector.
Whitney specifically raised concerns about the absence of any mention of the “Year of Return” and “Beyond the Return” initiatives, which have had a positive impact on Ghana’s economy.
She questioned why Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s manifesto, as the NPP’s flagbearer, does not include plans to continue these initiatives, which were prominent during the Akufo-Addo administration.
Furthermore, Whitney expressed disappointment that the proposed Women’s Trade Empowerment Fund, aimed at supporting women-owned businesses, did not extend to the creative arts sector.
She questioned the NPP representatives in the studio, OB Nartey and Frank, on whether they had been consulted during the manifesto’s development, as it seemed to overlook the needs of the creative industry.
Whitney also lamented the creative arts sector’s apparent inability to hold the government accountable, suggesting that the industry’s focus often seems to be on personal interests rather than collective progress.
She noted that political engagement in the sector tends to peak during elections, only to fade afterward, leaving the industry without consistent support.
In response to Whitney’s concerns, one of the NPP representatives reassured her that the issues she raised are being considered and will be addressed in due course.