Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has called on stakeholders in Ghana’s creative industry to foster unity and collaboration rather than competition.
Speaking on Starr Chat with Bola Ray on Thursday, September 11, the minister stressed that the success of one sector of the creative arts should not come at the expense of another, as all are interconnected.
“For example, you’re a musician but you wear clothes. That’s fashion — you must be interested in how well fashion does. You’re a musician and you use dancers, so you must be interested that the dancers are doing well. It’s not good enough for one to be doing well and the other not doing well, so I’m just pleading with all of you,” she said.
Gomashie, who has worked in the industry since 1985, reflected on the long journey that has brought the creative arts to a point where the government now formally recognises and engages the sector.
READ: Dzifa Gomashie pushes for UNESCO recognition of Ghana’s cultural heritage
“It’s been a long time, so I know what we have gone through to be able to have a government recognise us and give us this appointment — first time and second time. It means that we are making progress. So let’s work together instead of against each other,” she urged.
The minister also cautioned against attitudes of superiority, stressing the importance of respecting diverse talents and expertise within the sector.
“Don’t think that what you know is superior to what I know. What I know is definitely not superior to what you know. It’s just that we are coming with different passions and expectations, but we have to work together,” she added.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Barbara Yeboah
