Establish creative arts Hall of Fame – FOCAP to Creative Arts Council

Federation Of Concerned Arts Professionals (FOCAP), an arts-based pressure group of experts with the aim of revamping the Ghanaian creative arts industry has asked the Creative Arts Council to create Hall of Fame for the industry players.

The group presenting the proposal to the President of Creative Arts Council, Mark Okraku Mantey said the Hall of Fame seeks to recognize Local Musicians, Performers, Artists, Actors, Actresses, Fine Artists, Sculptors and Writers, commemorating their achievements and impact upon the Cultural life of Ghana in hopes of educating and inspiring the youth of Ghana to use and expand their creative abilities to enrich the community.

According to the conveners of the FOCAP group, though there are several awards and ceremonies celebrating Ghanaian arts personalities, there is the need to establish a credible platform to celebrate the outstanding veterans (men and women) in death and the living ones who have contributed immensely to the creation and development of the Ghanaian Creative Arts industry.

Mark Okraku Mantey in his response after he received the proposal thanked the leaders of the FOCAP group and assured them that the initiative will be a reality.

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It is a well established fact that Culture is promoted by Creativity and a beautiful and well structured marriage between Culture and Creativity would push Tourism to its height.

In the Project Based Budget 2016-2018 for the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts (MOTCCA).

“BUDGET SUB-PROGRAMME SUMMARY
PROGRAMME 5: Culture, Creative Arts and Heritage Management

SUB-PROGRAMME 5.2: Promotion of Arts and Culture”

Expressly explain how we would use music for National Development but we believe that this can be achieved when players of this industry are properly motivated to push the frontiers by being inducted into a hall of fame to motivate the youth and celebrate achievers.

The Ghana Creative Arts Hall of Fame seeks to recognize Local Musicians, Performers, Artists, Actors, Actresses, Fine Artists, Sculptors and Writers, commemorating their achievements and impact upon the Cultural life of Ghana in hopes of educating and inspiring the youth of Ghana to use and expand their creative abilities to enrich the community.

It is a fact that Creative Arts professionals have been part of all aspects of nation building through Politics, Religion, Tradition and all. Creative Arts professionals have been used on campaign platforms and also helped in bringing the populace together through their works.

Creative Arts professionals have been used on campaign platforms and also helped in bringing the populace together through their works.

There are several awards and ceremonies celebrating the Ghanaian arts personalities, but FOCAP believe there is a need to establish a credible platform to celebrate the outstanding veterans (men and women) in death and the living ones who have contributed immensely to the creation and development of the Ghanaian Creative Arts industry.

The vision behind the Creative Arts Hall of Fame is multi-faceted.

We will celebrate both the past and present creative arts professionals in their efforts in portraying the Ghanaian entity through their works to the world.

It is to also immortalise Ghanaian creative arts legends that have over the years made commendable contributions to the growth and development of the creative arts in Ghana.

The creative arts hall of fame is to honour, preserve and present the heritage of the music, its players and the music business by honouring achievement in talent, performance, writing, technical and business aspects of the industry; to perpetuate the music and music business of Ghana and our legacy of excellence.

Many of our heroes have died not celebrated and most importantly their history, achievements, lessons, impact on our society/communities was not felt.

The Creation of CREATIVE ARTS HALL OF FAME will help cement the confidence of industry players and see their impact on the larger society.

Ghana Tourism Federation in collaboration with Ministry of Tourism Culture and

Creative Arts launched and inducted in 2016 three persons including former presidents; Jerry John Rawlings and John Agyekum Kuffour into the TOURISM HALL OF FAME.

Good innovation from the Ministry and we must replicate it in other sectors of the Creative Arts industry.

We are therefore calling on your good office to give hearing to this proposal and see our heroes archived, celebrated properly, (death /alive) in all these sectors of the industry.

We, the undersigned are concerned citizens who play various roles in the Creative Arts industry, urge our leaders to commence a round table discussion between;

The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture,
The National Commission on Culture,
The Creative Arts Council,
National Folklore Board,
The Museum and Monuments Board and Stake Holders to draw up a blueprint for the establishment of a CREATIVE ARTS HALL OF FAME.

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Kojo Preko Dankwa
(Convener – FOCAP)
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Mel Kwesi Davis
(Convener – FOCAP)