Ghanaian creative industry player Mr Enock Agyepong has passionately advocated for the appointment of a substantive Minister for the Creative Arts Ministry rather than a deputy when President-Elect John Dramani Mahama assumes office as President of Ghana.
According to Mr Agyepong, the creative arts sector requires dedicated and focused leadership to address its unique challenges—a task that a deputy minister cannot effectively accomplish.
Drawing lessons from the tenure of Mark Okraku-Mantey as Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture under the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Agyepong noted that the lack of authority granted to deputies can hinder progress.
He argued that despite Okraku-Mantey’s wealth of experience and deep understanding of the industry, he was constrained by his position as a deputy, unable to implement major initiatives or make decisive changes.
“Mark Okraku-Mantey is someone who knows this industry inside out, according to him because he was a deputy, he could not do much,” Agyepong said on Ahotor mmre.
“Creative arts needs a leader who can call the shots and has the final say, not someone who constantly needs approval from above.”
Mr. Agyepong emphasized that Ghana’s creative arts sector has vast untapped potential, which can be harnessed with the right leadership.
He believes that appointing a Minister who comes from the creative arts community—someone who understands the struggles of artists, musicians, filmmakers, and other creatives—will ensure that the sector thrives.
“I urge John Mahama to lead by example so we don’t repeat the mistakes of the past and we trust he will put someone from the sector at the forefront and not as a deputy, Mr. Agyepong stated.
He added that the time has come for the creative arts to receive the leadership it truly deserves.
Watch the interview below:
Story by Obaapa Janee/ahotoronline.com
