Opinions of Monday, 10 June 2024

Columnist: Anthony Obeng Afrane

Mahama to establish TV station for the creative arts sector

John Dramani Mahama John Dramani Mahama

H.E. John Dramani Mahama, the 2024 presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has pledged to establish a television station for the creative arts sector in the event that he is elected on December 7, 2024.

During a policy dialogue with stakeholders in the creative arts industry on Friday, June 7, 2024, at the AH Hotel in Accra, the former president of the Republic of Ghana acknowledged that although artistes receive revenue from event ticket sales, they should also consider increasing their revenue streams from viewing.

"On digital terrestrial television, we will acquire a special channel for the creative arts. It will be an events channel. And you can display all your work there. If you have a big show like Stonebwoy is performing or Amandzeba is performing, or somebody is performing and you have a big show, or many of you are performing on a big show, we will have the technology to make that show payable. So even though it will be on the DTT, you would have to pay with the electronic, and then you will be given a code to watch,” he said.

Additionally, he stated that while those in the creative industry are generally the most prosperous people in the world, this is not the case in Ghana.

“The creative arts is a very important industry and has the potential to create millions of jobs. All our young people who are sitting at home are talented, but there are no opportunities for them to show their talents. So if we are able to put the creative industry on a sound footing, it will create opportunities for many of our young people," he noted.

Prior to the NDC's manifesto's release, President John Mahama discussed other tactics he wants to employ in order to advance the creative arts industry should he be elected president in the 2024 polls.