Pushing for creatives to be Tourism Ministers needless

On January 9, 2025, 2:30 PM

Renowned actor and Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayawaso West Wuogon, John Dumelo, has dismissed as pointless calls from stakeholders in the creative sector for the position of Minister of Tourism to be saved for an industry player.

He believes the sector ministry should not be the preserve of Creatives but anyone with the vision to champion the well-being and welfare of the creative industry could occupy the position.

In a recent conversation with the media, John Dumelo pointed out that even though he appreciated the position of his colleagues in the industry, he thought without being coerced by a group of people, it was prudent to leave the decision with President John Mahama who was sworn into office on Tuesday, January 7, 2025.

“I perfectly understand the position of my people but I think that being a Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture goes beyond being a Creative.

“What is more important is to be visionary and seek the welfare of the players you represent at the ministry. Who can best represent the ideals and goals, and equally understand the policies of the sector? That’s what is important to me and not whether the person is a Creative or not,” he added.

The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture was established by John Mahama in 2013 – merging tourism, arts, and culture. Previously, tourism had its ministry, while culture was part of the Chieftaincy Ministry, leaving arts without representation.

This move likely responded to stakeholders’ calls for a dedicated ministry or alignment with a related sector at the time.

The advocacy of giving creative players the important positions of minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture or the deputy was given attention when veteran actress and incumbent Ketu South MP, Abla Dzifa Gomashie was made a deputy minister with Madam Elizabeth Agyare as a substantive minister under the previous President John Mahama led National Democratic Congress (NDC) government from 2012-2016.

When the New Patriotic Party (NPP) took over power in 2016, the advocacy was intensified with names such as film producer, Socrate Safo, musician Kojo Antwi and Mark Okraku Mantey leading the list.

However, Madam Catherine Afeku was appointed substantive minister with Okraku Mantey as deputy. Catherine was later replaced by Mrs Barbara Oteng Gyasi in 2019.

After the NPP won its second term in office in 2020, former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo appointed Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal as minister. Mr Agyapa Mecer took over later till the end of their tenure.

Even though Mark Okraku Mantey had been the deputy minister for eight years, some creative players had argued his position limited his abilities to make decisions that championed the growth of the creative industry.

In light of this, some Creatives, with the election of John Dumelo and Dzifa Gomashie, both of the NDC, have started another campaign to get sector players at the top positions.

But John Dumelo pointed out to the media that although he appreciated the position of his colleagues in the sector, he thought being a minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture went beyond being part of the creative fraternity.

He also mentioned that though a lot was expected of him as a creative, he would very much go by what the NDC manifesto had proposed for the industry.

Story By Graphic Showbiz