Scrap Interim Creative Arts Council and Account for the 24 Billion Cedis of Taxpayers Money

Foundation Of Concerned Arts Professionals (FOCAP) is calling on president Nana Akuffo Addo with immediate effect to scrap the Interim Creative Arts council and also call the interim leadership headed by Mark Okraku Mantey to account for the utilization of the 24billion budgetary allocation by government to the interim council.

FOCAP believes the proper thing must be done to enable the sector achieve its purpose. FOCAP has been following with keen interest activities by the interim council and how they are managing and utilizing the budgetary allocation.

On the 19th of December 2018 during a stakeholders meeting to outline plans for 2019, the current interim council made mention that out of the 24billion cedis budgetary allocation, his outfit is expecting 1.3million Ghana cedis after receiving 40% of the 24billion budget for 2018.

FOCAP is asking President to do the needful by scrapping the interim council to stop them from further executing projects on behalf of the entire creative arts industry and rather set up a proper council with the creative arts bill passed into an act to make way for a legal council.
FOCAP wants to know why

1- The ministry of Tourism Arts and culture will give a budget allocation of 24billion to an interim council to run its office (3 months mandate)

2- Bank of Ghana registering an account for interim council to enable them receive government budget /funds

3- Interim council taking decisions for the entire industry with a decision to build a studio with the budget allocation assigned to them.

FOCAP wants to remind President Nana Akuffo Addo the very core mandate of the 3 member interim Creative Arts council of which the daughter Gyankroma Akuffo Addo is part.

1- In 2017 former minster Catherine Afeku inaugurated a three member committee

2- Their core mandate was to embark on a road show across the country, to nominate members that would make up the creative Arts council.

3- The team was to select veterans in the industry to form a five member governing board, which will guide the activities of the council.

As it stands now the 3 months duration is over, waiting for a good recommendation and comprehensive list to form the council yet we see a big gab and an illegality being played here with the interim council continuing to be in office.

FOCAP is appealing to the President Nana Akuffo Addo to SCRAP the interim creative arts council and allow due process and a proper council formation done to continue the mandate of ensuring the creative arts bill is passed and proper institution of council established.

We Trust President Nana Addo’s quest in fighting against corruption and we believe he will not supervise over any form of corruption especially right under his nose.

FOCAP, an advocacy and pressure group is in great support for a well structured and proper layout plan for the industry to thrive and we will continue to ensure this dream is achieved.

CC: Office of The President.
Tourism Arts and Culture
MUSIGA
GHAMRO
GAPI
FIPAG
ARSOG
GAG
Copyghana
Director Creative Arts Projects.
GHAFTA

Enock Agyepong
Convener
0244712136

Kojo Preko Dankwa
Convener
0575655656

Mel Kwesi Davis
Convener
0246550298.