FOCAP has been following with keen interest the rate at which it’s being drummed home to accept and change our mindset about MADE IN GHANA PRODUCTS and also in believing in our own.

The National Commission on Culture (NCC) in partnership with Street Fashion Train under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture have earmarked the month of March as the Wear Ghana Month and FOCAP wants to use this opportunity to congratulate the sector Minister, Hon. Catherine Ablema Afeku and the two institutions for their hard work in helping position the creative Arts industry.

FOCAP believes largely the Wear Ghana Month is gaining attention and we hope and pray this would be further promoted for it to become a fully recognised national event. This when established would bring a lot of economic benefits to the Creative Industry.

Nevertheless, one critical blunder FOCAP has identified and wishes to draw the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the National Commission on Culture’s and Creative Arts Industry’s attention to, is that fact that, we at FOCAP are disappointed, shocked and amazed that the same month Ghanaians are being encouraged to patronise Made In Ghana products, The Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture, The National Commission on Culture, The Ministry of Information and Ghana Broadcasting Cooperation are disrupting the Agenda by promoting “China Movie Week” organised by China Movie Channel, Ghana Broadcasting Cooperation and Embassy of the People’s Republic of China which would give space to Chinese movies being shown on prime time slots on the National Broadcaster – GBC Television (GTV).

It was quite worrying that a speech read on behalf of the Minister did not acknowledge that we have a Film Act but was rather talking about Creative Council and the draft Council Bill although it was a platform for film.

The China movie week celebration in Ghana has locked down March 12th – 18th to show Chinese movies on Ghana Television Network (GTV) at peak time of between 12:30pm to 6pm. FOCAP is wondering why GTV, National Commission on Culture and The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture could not also take advantage of the month to show Ghanaian movies to also make us proud. We at FOCAP believe the vision to help the Creative Arts industry is very far from reality and we need to whip up the momentum to see it come to fruition.

FOCAP agrees to the fact that Ghana Television (GTV) also airs some content on the Wear Ghana Month and also show some Ghanaian movies periodically but FOCAP believes it’s unfair and shows lack of Strategy, Planning and Leadership in helping to build the Ghana Creative Art sector to be sharing this national event with a competitor who has an agenda to showcase another culture to Ghanaians.

The industry is trying hard in finding ways to curb foreign content on our media platforms of which is stated in the Cultural Policy of 2004 and Development and Classification of Film Act 2016 (Act 935) which we believe the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and National Commission on Culture wants us to uphold.

FOCAP believes the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the National Commission on Culture should sit up and learn from these same Chinese and build our own.

The Chinese are here to showcase their culture and development. The Chinese in 2012 had established China – African Film and Television Corporation project which has an agenda that annually, 10 Drama Series and 52 Films would be translated into Hausa, Arabic, Swahili and other African languages and shown around African countries.

The Chinese have a vision to show the world and Africans the National Spirit of China and making it a platform to show Africa the profound Chinese culture and rapid development and achievements.

FOCAP humbly suggests;

1- FOCAP proposes a debate about an AUTHORITY for the Creative Industry should begin, just as has been done for Tourism to give it the necessary powers to make bylaws and to work devoid of much governmental interference.

2- FOCAP is calling for immediate action on the enforcement of the Film Authority ACT (ACT 935) passed by Parliament in 2016.This will go a long way to curb and release government the pressure to handle most critical industry issues and challenges pertaining to film.

3 – FOCAP is calling for a stakeholder’s conference on setting up a vision 2030 agenda for the Creative Industry. Countries like Malta, Saudi Arabia have put out their agenda 2020 (Malta) and 2030 (Saudi Arabia) respectively for their Creative Arts Industry agenda.

4 – FOCAP is also calling for immediate appointments of Creative Industry focused Cultural attachés to our embassies and foreign missions to help win much investment into the industry.

5 – FOCAP believes Ghana through the Creative Arts Industry should have an agenda to export the Ghanaian Culture to the outside world.

Kojo Preko Dankwa Convener 0576655656

Mel Kwesi Convener 0246550298

Davis Enoch Agyapong Convener 0244712136