Where Are the Manifesto Promises? FOCAP Challenges Tourism Minister After Accountability Session

The Foundation of Concerned Arts Professionals (FOCAP) has challenged the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, to provide clearer evidence of progress on key manifesto promises made to Ghana’s creative arts, culture and tourism sector.

The group’s concerns follow the minister’s participation in the government’s accountability series at the Jubilee House, where she outlined the achievements and progress recorded by her ministry since the Mahama administration took office.

FOCAP welcomed the minister’s decision to account for her stewardship but said the engagement was long overdue, particularly given the expectations placed on the creative arts and tourism sector.

According to the organisation, it conducted its own assessment of the sector exactly one year into the Mahama administration and scored the government 0 per cent on the implementation of its manifesto commitments in the sector.

FOCAP, led by its President, Kojo Preko Dankwa, said it was therefore disappointed that the minister’s presentation focused largely on activities and programmes it believes do not adequately demonstrate the fulfilment of the government’s key promises.

Black Star Experience

A major concern raised by FOCAP was the implementation of the Black Star Experience, which it described as one of the core promises of the government’s manifesto.

The organisation noted that the Black Star Experience was launched at the Black Star Square as part of President John Mahama’s 100-day achievements.

However, FOCAP argued that beyond the launch, there had been little visible effort to implement the programme as a year-round national initiative fully.

The group said it was particularly concerned that the minister did not acknowledge the office responsible for coordinating the Black Star Experience, which it said operates under the Office of the President.

FOCAP argued that the initiative continues to struggle for the necessary support and recognition nearly one and a half years after its launch.

The organisation said the flagship programme, which was expected to provide a year-round platform for Ghanaian film, music, fashion, heritage and cultural celebrations, remains largely invisible.

FOCAP further alleged that when a question was posed to the minister concerning the Black Star Experience during the accountability engagement, her response demonstrated what the organisation considers a lack of sufficient attention to the programme.

Dispute Over National Film Authority’s 1% GDP Target

FOCAP also questioned claims surrounding the National Film Authority (NFA) and its medium-term objective of increasing the film industry’s contribution to Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product from 0.2 per cent to at least one per cent.

According to FOCAP, the target should not be presented as an achievement because it remains an ambition that has yet to be realised.

The organisation said its research indicates that the NFA’s document, titled Reviving Ghana’s Film Industry: A Vision for Growth, speaks about engaging one per cent of Ghana’s population in local cinema culture within two years through improved film distribution and exhibition.

FOCAP therefore questioned the basis for presenting the 1 per cent GDP contribution target as evidence of progress.

It also argued that the contribution of the broader creative arts sector to Ghana’s GDP remains insufficiently demonstrated.

The group further criticised the presentation of the National Film Dialogue as an achievement, describing it as a normal sector activity rather than a major fulfilment of the government’s manifesto promises.

GH¢40 Million Creative Arts Fund

FOCAP welcomed the government’s commitment to provide GH¢40 million as seed funding for the Creative Arts Fund, which was captured in the 2026 budget.

However, it said the fund cannot be effectively operationalised until the necessary legislative instrument is passed by Parliament.

The organisation consequently questioned why the National Film Authority had already begun inviting enterprises to access a GH¢5 million seed fund while the Creative Arts Agency was not doing the same.

FOCAP described the situation as raising questions about compliance with the legal framework governing the fund.

The group called for clarity on the process and urged the government to ensure that the promised funding mechanism is properly established before disbursement.

Digital Creators and Copyright Protection

FOCAP also identified what it described as “low-hanging fruit” in the government’s manifesto that could be implemented without necessarily requiring huge financial resources.

Among these is structured support for young digital content creators.

According to FOCAP, the manifesto promised measures to help young creators develop commercially viable content and build sustainable careers online.

The organisation said that despite Ghanaian digital creators building audiences and businesses independently, there was still no clear government platform, programme or dedicated funding line addressing the commitment.

Copyright enforcement was another area highlighted by FOCAP.

The group said stronger copyright enforcement had repeatedly been promised as a means of protecting artists and other creators whose works are pirated and monetised without authorisation.

FOCAP argued that there were still no visible improvements in enforcement mechanisms that industry players could readily identify.

Normal Ministry Work Is Not Manifesto Achievement

FOCAP stressed that routine administrative and procedural activities of the ministry should not automatically be classified as achievements.

The organisation said the government’s responsibility was to implement the specific commitments it made to the creative arts sector during the election campaign.

It argued that many of the commitments highlighted by the minister remain at the pipeline stage rather than having been translated into tangible programmes and outcomes.

FOCAP therefore called for a more direct assessment of the government’s manifesto promises and urged the minister to provide specific timelines, measurable outcomes and evidence of implementation.

The organisation said the Black Star Experience, in particular, should have received greater attention because of its central role in the government’s vision for the creative arts, culture and tourism sector.

FOCAP’s statement was signed by Kojo Preko Dankwa, President; Enoch Agyepong, Vice President, Research; and Mel Kwasi Davis, Vice President.