Prominent Ghanaian media figure, Kofi Okyere Darko, popularly known as KOD, has voiced his disappointment concerning the current state of affairs within the creative industry.
His disappointment is directed towards the Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mark Okraku-Mantey, as well as the actions of the president in this regard.
KOD had initially placed his trust in the president and the minister, given their prior engagement with the creative sector. However, he now finds their performance in this area to be lacking. These sentiments were expressed during his conversation with Andy Dosty on Hitz FM, a radio station based in Accra.
“I had very high hopes for what Nana was going to do for the creative space because right from the 70s, Nana Akufo-Addo has been connected to the music industry in diverse ways,” said KOD. “He used to organize shows in the UK when he was in school. He was friends with people like Fela Anikulapo Kuti… He’s had a very great relationship with musicians over the years.”
“Look at his team members…Many of them have creative backgrounds. So you’d expect that, this is the time for us to shine, but it didn’t happen,” he lamented.
KOD expressed his belief that Mark Okraku-Mantey, the Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, appears to have lost touch with his roots, as he had anticipated a more significant contribution from the minister to foster the industry’s growth.
“Maybe there was no clear-cut plan for what to do with the creative space. When our brother Mark Okraku-Mantey was appointed, many people said, ‘Oh, this is one of us,’ but up until now, I have not seen much from him as a person,” KOD argued.
He continued: “In actual fact, you can’t even access him, you want him to do something for you, and you have to deal with him like any other person, not like one of us who has been elevated.
“He has forgotten why he was elevated. We thought someone like him would be a mouthpiece for us. But I am disappointed in what the government has done. They could have done more for us.”
KOD’s remarks contribute to the ongoing discussion surrounding the condition and prospects of the Ghanaian creative industry. While some have attributed the challenges to a perceived lack of proactivity among creatives, others advocate for increased support and resources for the creative community.