The President of the Foundation of Concerned Arts Professionals (FOCAP), Kojo Preko Dankwa, has said President John Dramani Mahama’s recent visit to the Bob Marley Museum in Jamaica has exposed Ghana’s long-standing failure to honour and preserve the legacy of its creative legends.

Speaking in an interview with kpdonline.com, Kojo Preko said the President’s tour of the museum dedicated to reggae legend Bob Nesta Marley should serve as a national wake-up call, urging successive governments, cultural institutions and industry stakeholders to rethink how Ghana celebrates the personalities who have shaped the country’s identity through music, film, literature, sculpture, sports and other creative disciplines.

According to him, Jamaica’s decision to include the Bob Marley Museum as part of President Mahama’s itinerary demonstrates the enormous value the Caribbean nation places on its cultural icons.

“It sends a signal to Ghana that clearly we have failed in honouring our heroes. We have failed in honouring people or creatives who have sold the Ghana brand to the international community, and we have equally failed to appreciate the work they have done in elevating Ghana’s image globally,” he said.

Kojo Preko argued that although President Mahama’s state visit could have included factories, educational institutions, industrial facilities or other economic projects, the fact that one of the highlights was a visit to Bob Marley’s museum speaks volumes about Jamaica’s priorities.

“If a whole President of another country is taken to the museum of Bob Nesta Marley, it tells you the value Jamaicans place on one of their heroes who sold Jamaica to the world through music,” he stated.

He said Jamaica has deliberately transformed Bob Marley’s legacy into a national heritage asset that attracts tourists from around the world while promoting Jamaican culture internationally.

Successive governments have failed Ghana’s creative legends

Kojo Preko insisted that the issue goes beyond the current administration, stressing that every government since independence shares responsibility for neglecting Ghana’s creative pioneers.

“For me, it is shameful—not just for this government, but for all previous governments that have failed to recognise the importance of honouring our heroes in the creative sector,” he said.

He lamented that Ghana continues to lose legendary musicians, actors, writers, sculptors and cultural icons without establishing permanent monuments, museums or educational programmes in their memory.

According to him, despite the enormous contribution of legendary highlife musician Nana Kwame Ampadu, there is no national lecture, annual remembrance programme or major institution bearing his name.

“We were here when one of our greatest heroes, Nana Ampadu, passed away. Ask yourself today, how do we remember Nana Ampadu? Does MUSIGA organise an annual lecture? Is there even a special day dedicated to celebrating his contribution? The answer is no.”

He also cited several other celebrated musicians who have passed away, including Paapa Yankson, A.B. Crentsil and C.K. Mann, saying Ghana has done little or nothing to immortalise their legacies.

“We have watched Paapa Yankson leave us. We have watched Papa Abu leave us. We have watched A.B. Crentsil leave us. We have watched C.K. Mann leave us. Many musicians, actors, sculptors and writers have left us, but we still do not honour them.”

He questioned why there are no iconic national monuments, museums, concert halls or public facilities named after such personalities.

“We don’t even have any iconic place named after Nana Ampadu. We don’t even have an edifice in the Western Region dedicated to Paapa Yankson, C.K. Mann and the others.”

Ghana waits until legends die

Kojo Preko expressed concern that Ghana often fails to appreciate its creative legends while they are alive.

He questioned whether the country intends to wait until current music stars such as Stonebwoy and Shatta Wale are gone before attempting to celebrate them.

“Are we waiting for heroes like Stonebwoy and Shatta Wale to leave the scene before we begin to honour them? Why don’t we celebrate people while they are alive?”

He added that the same neglect exists in sports.

“In football, we don’t celebrate our heroes enough. Other countries honour people like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi because they understand their value to national identity and tourism.”

According to him, countries across the world increasingly recognise that culture, sports and entertainment generate enormous economic returns.

“The world has moved to a point where these sectors generate revenue. We don’t seem to understand that.”

Beyond Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park

While acknowledging the recent renovation of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, Kojo Preko argued that Ghana has failed to replicate similar projects for other national icons.

“Beyond Kwame Nkrumah’s museum, what else have we done? The National Theatre has challenges. Our museums are not even up to international standards.”

He also questioned what local authorities in the Eastern Region have done to celebrate Nana Ampadu’s birthplace.

“We know where Nana Ampadu comes from. What has his own region done to celebrate him?”

Celebrate heroes across every sector

Kojo Preko called for a complete rethink of Ghana’s approach to recognising national achievers.

According to him, musicians, actors, writers, sports personalities, tourism pioneers and cultural practitioners should all be honoured through national monuments, museums, lecture series and annual celebrations.

He recalled President Mahama’s own remarks during the launch of the Black Star Experience, where the President stressed the need to celebrate Ghanaian legends while they are still alive.

Kojo Preko questioned what concrete actions have followed those remarks.

“He mentioned that we should honour people like Agya Koo Nimo while they are alive. What have we done? Do we have annual lectures? Do we have museums? Do we have anything substantial?”

He described the situation as deeply disappointing.

FOCAP’s Hall of Fame proposal

Kojo Preko revealed that FOCAP had years ago proposed the establishment of a National Hall of Fame to permanently honour outstanding Ghanaians in music, sports, literature, sculpture and other creative fields.

According to him, such a facility would preserve Ghana’s history while becoming a major tourist attraction capable of generating significant revenue.

“People from across the world would pay to visit these places and celebrate our heroes.”

He also mentioned internationally acclaimed artist Professor Ablade Glover, asking why Ghana has not created a permanent institution celebrating his contribution despite his global recognition.

National Commission on Culture criticised

The FOCAP President criticised the National Commission on Culture, MUSIGA and other agencies within the creative sector, accusing them of failing to champion the preservation of Ghana’s cultural heritage.

He questioned what lasting recognition had been given to personalities who played foundational roles in Ghana’s cultural institutions, including Mohammed Abdullah, whom he described as one of the pioneers of the National Commission on Culture.

“There are many heroes we have simply forgotten.”

Government honours statesmen but not creative icons

Kojo Preko noted that Ghana has demonstrated its ability to honour distinguished national leaders through official commemorations.

He pointed to Parliament’s decision to institute a state lecture in honour of former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, as well as recent commemorative activities organised in memory of former President Professor John Evans Atta Mills.

“If we can honour Kofi Annan and President Mills, why can’t the creative industry honour its own legends?”

Creativity is a powerful economic tool

Kojo Preko argued that Jamaica has successfully built a global tourism industry around Bob Marley, while countries such as Nigeria have used Nollywood and Afrobeats to transform international perceptions of their country.

According to him, the United States has also projected its influence worldwide through films, music and popular culture.

“It is creativity that helped make America what it is today. They intentionally projected their image through the creative arts.”

He added that Nigeria has used its film industry and music to reshape global perceptions despite past stereotypes.

“Nigeria deliberately used movies and music to reposition its image. Ghana has failed to do the same.”

‘We are erasing our own history’

Kojo Preko warned that Ghana risks losing its cultural identity if it continues neglecting the people who built the country’s artistic heritage.

He mentioned celebrated flautist Ephraim Amu, asking what permanent national recognition has been established in his honour.

“We are erasing history. We are not preserving history. We are failing to celebrate the people who gave this country an identity.”

He maintained that President Mahama’s visit to the Bob Marley Museum should encourage Ghana to place greater value on culture and creativity as drivers of tourism, national identity and economic development.

“For President Mahama to visit Bob Nesta Marley’s museum tells me that Jamaica understands the power of culture. Ghana has failed to honour its heroes, and that is not fair to them.”