We Should not Reduce the Culture and Creative Arts Industry to mere Entertainment – Richardson Commey Fio Laments

Mr. Richardson Commey Fio, Special Aide to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, has cautioned against the growing tendency to reduce Ghana’s culture and creative arts industry to mere entertainment, describing the practice as harmful to national development and cultural identity.

Speaking during an appearance on Kessben Entertainment on Kessben 92.9 FM, Mr. Commey Fio stressed that the culture and creative arts sector extends far beyond music, film, and celebrity-driven entertainment, and must be treated as a strategic economic and cultural pillar.

According to him, culture and creative arts encompass heritage preservation, visual arts, fashion, design, crafts, literature, festivals, and indigenous knowledge systems,s areas that contribute significantly to tourism, job creation, and national branding.

“When we reduce culture and creative arts to entertainment alone, we undermine their full value and their potential contribution to Ghana’s socio-economic development,” he lamented.

Mr. Commey Fio noted that such reductionism affects policy direction, funding allocation, and public perception of the sector, often leaving key creative disciplines under-supported. He called on media practitioners, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to adopt a broader and more responsible approach when discussing and promoting creative arts.

He, however, commended Kessben Entertainment for positioning its programme beyond gossip and spectacle, describing it as one of the few platforms that consistently engages creatives on industry structure, welfare, and policy-related issues.

The Special Aide further encouraged creative practitioners to advocate for proper recognition of their work and to push for frameworks that protect intellectual property and ensure sustainable livelihoods.

As Ghana continues to explore the economic potential of its creative economy, Mr. Commey Fio’s remarks serve as a timely reminder that culture is not merely for amusement but a critical driver of identity, innovation, and national progress.