Ghanaian entertainment stakeholder, Ola Michael has labeled the New Patriotic Party (NPP) manifesto on creative arts as insulting, inappropriate, and unnecessary.

The NPP, stated clearly in its manifesto over the weekend that it would usher in an era of prosperity for the creative arts sector. 

“We will set up large recording studios in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, and Takoradi, as part of the entrepreneurial hub's strategy, in partnership with the private sector, for recording artists to rent space for their recordings in these studios; build a digital platform for artists to make their products available to the global market; set up the Creative Arts Fund to support artists; complete the theatres in Kumasi, and construct new theatres in Takoradi and Tamale.”

Ola Michael says the promises made are disrespectful, especially when the former promises that the NPP made in its 2016 manifesto of the party are brought to light. He stated that the party has not fulfilled all its 18 promises it had made initially before coming into power so it, therefore, has no right to make new ones.

He opined that the NPP's attempt to gloss over the former promises goes to show that it has no intention of fulfilling the news. 

“I feel the NPP doesn’t take the industry serious, they don’t respect it; they don’t really want to know what the creative industry is,” he said.

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“You promised to build theatres; you couldn’t and now you’re promising to build recording studios. In 2017 or so, Mark Okraku-Mantey at GHAMRO’s annual general meeting said the government intends to build an ultra-modern sound recording studio. Even some of the NPP folks said it wasn’t what the industry needed. Now, they’ve found a way to push that same thing into their manifesto, saying they will build studios in 4 regions. I think the NPP is playing with us…”

“The four points they’ve listed is much ado about nothing, I think it’s not well thought through, I think they don’t know what to do for space, they have no intention of helping or developing the creative and cultural industry,” Ola said. 

“Even if you’re ashamed of not fulfilling any of the 18 promises you made in 2016, at least, you could have captured them in this manifesto and give reasons for the failure and how you intend to achieve them. You don’t turn a total blind eye to what you promise in 2016. It’s a total deception, disrespect and show of ignorance of what the industry needs.” He concluded.