No way for ambushing and exploitation of festival active spaces-AMA, CSAF organizers warned
Following the incessant ambushing by cooperations businesses, the organizers of the Chalewote Street Art Festival and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly have served a joint notice of warning to those who would want to take advantage of the event.
Prosper Kwaku Selassy Agbitor 
Businesses and corporations brooding the idea of taking advantage of the active public spaces during the massive- patronage-yearly Chalewote Street Art Festival must have a rethink. This is because organizers will not take it lightly with any business outlet or corporation that will engage in any act of ambush advertisement and sale without prior approval from the organizers. "This new arrangement in addition to other existing protocols is to ensure sanity, order and public safety. We wish to use this opportunity to rally the citizenry to show interest in the event and support the various activities by participating.
This year's event seeks to embrace the defiance of formal artistic boundaries and fragmentation of social experience through culture", she further added. At a press briefing earlier today, Friday, August 12, 2022 in Accra, the organizers sent a stern warning to all businesses planning to take advantage of the inner perimeter of Chalewote Street Art Festival to desist. According the organizers, such corporations and brands must be prepared to face their wrath should they flout the rules of engagement.
Addressing a joint press briefing, the Mayor of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Honourable Elizabeth Kwatsoe Naa Sackey indicated that much as the organizers would wish to have businesses display the wares, they equally would not entertain any act of ambush advertisement, sales and exploitation of the festival's active public spaces by corporations and businesses within the perimeter of the Chalewote Street Art Festival.
The move, she noted will seek to engender sanity and safety of the unsuspecting public. Themed "Stargate to Africa",the festival which has been slated for August 12th to 22nd will seek to draw participants from all walks of life to Jamestown.
"As we all know, the Chalewote festival is a Ghanaian-originated platform that brings together art, music,dance, and performance onto the streets to promote art, culture and tourism and this year marks it's twelfth edition hence the need for stakeholder collaboration to structure ways to improve upon the festival and make it socially and economically profitable to the Ga people and the people of Ghana", she said. "Towards this end, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism Culture and Creative Arts, Ghana Tourism Authority and the organizers of the Chalewote Street Art Project wish to bring to the attention of the general public and all corporate entities that due to the incessant ambushing and exploitation of the festival's active public spaces by corporations, all brands that have set up activation spaces or plan to erect activation spaces within the perimeter of the Chalewote Street Art Festival must seek approval from the AMA", it urged.
On his part, the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Ghana Tourism Authority, Mr. Akwasi Agyeman was upbeat the festival would contribute to upscaling the industry.
He indicated his outfit's resolve to collaborate with like-minded stakeholders to replicate the festival in the remaining 15 regions. This he said would help generate revenue for the country.
The producer at the CSAF, Mantse Aryeequaye believes the festival would serve its intended purposes of reenacting the spirit of oneness and togetherness amongst the people for national development.
Report by Prosper Kwaku Selassy Agbitor
