Pension Scheme For Creative People Is Very Important To President Akufo Addo – Dep. Minister, Mark Okraku-Mantey
Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Mark Okraku Mantey has stated how retirement benefits for Ghanaian entertainers are very paramount to President Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo’s government.
Addressing stakeholders in the entertainment industry on the need for entertainers to plan for their pension when they retire from active music, the acting industry, fashion Poetry, and creatives in general.
The interactive session dubbed “Creative Arts Stakeholders Pension Conversation” which was organized by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture took place at the Alisa Hotel on Friday, November 4, 2022.
It was well attended and received by leaders of various associations within the creative arts industry, veteran musicians and actors share concerns about their retirement and pension and how it can be designed to suit their field of endeavor.
Hon. Okraku Mantey intimated that this conversation about pensions for entertainers in Ghana is a very important one and it is dear to the heart of the president of the republic, President Akufo Addo, so he(The President) has tasked the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Hon. Awal Mohammed and his ministry do everything in their power to make sure entertainers in Ghana get the best pension schemes, considering the dynamic nature of their profession.
According to him, some veteran musicians were very huge in the 70s and 80s but in their old ages but they were penniless and struggled to make ends meet because there were no pension plans in place for them in the past.
He urged stakeholders to take advantage of the opportunities created by his ministry and have a down-to-earth conversation with pension scheme providers such as bankers, insurance companies, etc. to know the various pension, insurance, and investment packages they can offer so that entertainers can subscribe to, so they will not suffer the same fate as their predecessors.
Hon. Okraku Mantey entreated the banks and insurance companies to establish pension packages that are tailor-made for people in the creatives and also have the tolerance and patience to know about their concerns so they can customize their products to suit them well.
Some of the institutions present to share expert knowledge on pensions and investments includes; Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Standard Chartered Bank, Hollard Insurance, and Quality Life Assurance Company Limited, among others.