“How Much Did It Cost to Paint Parts of Accra?”- FOCAP President Questions Gyankroma Akuffo-Addo Over Alleged $25M ‘Arts for All’ Project

A fresh wave of controversy has erupted within Ghana’s creative arts space as the President of the Foundation of Concerned Arts Professionals (FOCAP), Kojo Preko Dankwa, has publicly questioned the cost and transparency surrounding the widely discussed “Arts for All” project, linked to Gyankroma Akufo-Addo.

The debate, which has regained national attention, centres on allegations that a staggering $25 million was spent on painting selected interchanges and public spaces in Accra, claims that have triggered scrutiny from industry stakeholders and the general public.

He questioned?

Bright Kankam Boadu might have gotten it wrong. No problem. To err is human, and indeed, a sign of maturity has been shown and exhibited by him. In this profession, we should be bold and speak truth to power to see our democracy stand tall.

To push argument of whether Gyankroma Akuffo Addo didn’t use $25 million state money to pay for painting certain areas in Accra, l keep wondering why, since 2022 till date, she has also not stated categorically how much she used in the project, but rather keeps denying the $25million (which l agree there are no documentation evidence to prove that).

I am challenging her to come clean and tell the whole world how much it costs her to paint certain areas in Accra.

In 2018, Gyankroma Akuffo told Ghanaians she conceived Art for All, and the purpose was to beautify our capital city, Accra, and equally give a platform to our Ghanaian artist According to her, the projects were ” conceived, managed and financially undertaken by the Creative Arts Agency through its own fundraising.”

The question then arises, which Creative Arts Agency was she referring to? The one she occupied illegally or another agency.

1. Creative Arts Agency (CAA) was born in 2020 (Act 1048) and not 2018.

2- In 2018, there was the Creative Arts Council (CAC), which she occupied as an executive secretary, and Mark Okraku Mantey, the president.  It was a position to be held for 3 to 4 months, and ended up lasting 4 years and beyond. The purpose of that council was to go around the country and take the views of creatives to help build the Creative Arts Industry Act, 2020(Act 1048).

It will therefore not be true that she used The Creative Arts Agency (CAA) because at the time she was occupying it illegally, it did not have the requirements (Board), as an agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, to perform its functional duties.

She went further in 2022 to outline how she managed to raise funds for the project.

1- The private sector funded Ako Adjei.  Who is the private sector, and why put Ghanaians in the dark by not telling all and sundry?

2- Tetteh Quarshie was paid by herself (Gyankroma Akuffo Addo). How much did it cost her, and why use personal money for an agency (government) work, and which board approved such a procedure, and where was the minister then?

3- The generosity of Ben Asante, then CEO of Ghana Gas (government institution), who, according to Gyankroma Akuffo Addo, helped and how much?

4- Coral Paints and its CEO provided the paints. At what cost?

If you truly want transparency, avoid conflict of interest, and stop the peddling of falsehoods, tell Ghanaians how much it costs you for the entire project and let sleeping dogs lie.

Kojo Preko Dankwa

FOCAP President.