Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, Vice President of Ghana and flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has unveiled plans to offer tax rebates to creatives if he is elected President of Ghana. He made this announcement during a public lecture at the University of Professional Studies (UPSA) in Accra on February 7, 2024.
The lecture, titled ‘Ghana’s Next Chapter: Selfless Leadership and Bold Solutions for the Future’, outlined Dr. Bawumia’s vision for the creative industry if he is given the opportunity to lead the nation. He pledged to provide tax incentives for film producers and musicians and also promised to create digital platforms for Ghanaian artists.
In line with the NPP’s 2020 Manifesto on the creative industry, Dr. Bawumia highlighted the party’s commitment to building a digital platform for artists to showcase their work on the global stage. He also pledged to build on the success of the Year of Return, Beyond the Return, December in Ghana initiative.
Furthermore, Dr. Bawumia revealed his government’s plans to implement an e-visa policy for all international visitors to Ghana, with a promise to enable visas to be obtained in minutes, subject to security and criminal checks.
Despite these promises, the NPP has faced criticism from stakeholders in the creative industry for failing to deliver on certain pledges. These include the establishment of the Creative Arts Fund to support artists, the construction of theatres in Kumasi, Takoradi, and Tamale, as well as the establishment of large recording studios in partnership with the private sector.
The construction of a convention and exhibition centre at the Ghana Trade Fair Company site, La, also remains uncompleted. These unfulfilled promises have raised concerns among members of the creative industry.
Dr. Bawumia’s promises to support the creative arts and culture sector have sparked interest and debate among Ghanaians, setting the stage for an engaging discussion on the future of the industry in the country.
