Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie has said she is not bothered that some industry players describe her contribution to the creative art industry as political gimmick.

Speaking on Empire Fm, on why she organised the honourary award event for women in the entertainment industry, the veteran actress disclosed that the idea was not to score cheap political point as others may presume it to be, but rather to contribute her quota as a player in the industry.

“I’ve grown up in this industry and I don’t know at what point I can separate myself (Dzifa Gomashie) from being a Deputy Minister. Even if I do something privately, you will say that Deputy Minister did this so I’m only functioning with the sector in which I’ve grown up…. I’m just blessed to be in the appointment as a deputy Minister but I’m one of the oldest people in the sector as well. If you look at my generation, I’ve done a lot till date and my collaborators are Edinam Akatsi, Abi Adasti, Mawuli Semevor, David Dontoh… these are the people I started acting movies with in 1985, so you can’t reduce to what I do to politics.”

“I’ve grown up in this industry long enough to know that the creative art sector of which I’m a team member didn’t have a ministry for the whole number of years that I’ve worked… this is the first time we’ve a ministry that recognizes the importance of creative arts so you can’t take that away from me. I’m a very happy woman that I’m alive to see that this thing that I have committed the most part of my life to now has a ministry that we can call our own.”

Meanwhile 25 women including the living and the dead who have contributed immensely towards the development of the industry over the years were honoured by Values For Life (VFL), a non-governmental and non-profit making organisation owned by the Deputy Minister.

The event dubbed, “A Night With Female Legends” which seeks to promote African cultural renaissance and restoration, particularly among the youth, also focuses on skills development, for economic and social empowerment of the youth.

The following were those who were honoured at the ceremony: Asabea Cropper- Musician, Naa Amanua – Musician, Ewurama Bedu – Musician, Afua Darkenoo – Musician, Naa Adjeley – Musician, Araba Stamp – Actress, Grace Nortey- Actress, Mercy Offei – Actress, Monica Quarcoopome – Actress, Comfort Addo – Actress, Dzifa Glikpoe – Actress, Grace Omaboe – Actress, Director, Producer, Musician, and Doris Adabasu Kuwornu – Director.

Others are Veronica Cudjoe – TV Director, Grace Djabaki Laing – Dancer, Ama Ata Aidoo – Author, Theodosia Okoh – Artist, Wilhermina Mensah – Musician, Efua Sutherland – Director, Prof. Esi Sutherland- Addy – Cultural Activist, Jessie Ankrah – Actress, Comfort Owusu – Actress, Edinam Atatsi – Actress, Akosua Abdallah – Actress and Agnes Panfred – Actress.

Value for Life (VFL) creates an environment for young people to unearth their creative arts talents.