Parliament Passes Creative Arts Industry Bill
The bill was initially approved by Ghana's cabinet earlier in the year on August's 16.
Tanitoluwa J. Adedotun 
On Thursday, December 17, 2020, the Parliament passed the Creative Arts Industry bill.
The Minister of Tourism Arts and Culture Barbara Oteng Gyasi has come through on her promise to get the bill passed before she leaves the office.
“For me, it’s very critical. If I don’t do anything at all between now and the end of the year, I will at least ensure that the bill is passed into law. It is a promise and I’m going to work hard at it,” she had earlier told the Accra-based Joy FM.
This was after President Akufo-Addo directed that there should be a true sense of urgency on the part of Parliament and all relevant stakeholders in passing the bill.
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“The President has expressed interest in this Bill. He is very concerned about the Creative Arts industry because he knows it is one of the key pillars of transformation. The creative arts industry plays a huge role in job creation and we have very gifted people in the arts that we have to help, promote and support. It goes a long way in boosting the country’s tourism drive” the minister revealed.
The bill was initially approved by Ghana's cabinet earlier in the year on August's 16.
It was confirmed by Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia during a Q&A session at a town hall meeting held in Accra on 17 August.
“Just yesterday [16 August], cabinet approved the Creative Arts Bill and this is going to Parliament when they come back in October," Bawumia said. "Under the Creative Arts Bill, we are setting up the Creative Arts Fund to empower the creative arts industry. It is going to be real growth poll for this country,” he said.
The Creative Arts Bill will serve as a framework to regulate the country’s creative economy, including music, film, advertising, PR, architecture, fashion and tourism, among other related sectors.
It will include a funding system that lays down the first legislative framework to guide the creative industry.
If President Akufo-Addo assents the bill in the coming days it is expected to begin operations in 2021.
