Akufo-Addo Meets Artistes

By Stephen Kwabena Effah

Saturday, 19 January 2008

Perhaps, for the first time, the crème de la crème in Ghana’s music and theatre industry have openly gave a resounding thumbs-up to a politician.

This was when the 2008 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, hosted them on Thursday.

At a ceremony to interact with the artistic industry, the industry’s players pledged their unflinching support and also to do everything possible and within their power to ensure his victory in the upcoming December polls.

The meeting forms part of Mr Akufo- Addo’s strategy to reach out to every sector and group in the country with his all-inclusive gospel during his administration.

Attended by an array of musicians, actors and actresses, comedians, producers and engineers, it afforded him the opportunity to interact with them.

According to them, their decision is borne out of the fact that the candidate who is a great lover of music, has demonstrated his commitment to help the industry.

Nana Kwame Ampadu, General Secretary of the Musicians Union of Ghana, said he was stunned by the fact that for the first time in the history of the industry, a presidential candidate has invited them to wine and dine together, adding, "we appreciate his interest in our industry".

"It’s amazing and it shows how much you love the industry and we will make sure you become president by all means. Anyone who plays down on the music industry does so at his own peril," he pointed out.

He said that musicians are ever ready to give Mr Akufo-Addo the necessary support whenever the need arise.

David Dontoh, an actor, took the opportunity to congratulate Nana Addo on his election to lead the NPP party. He said the ceremony attests to the fact that politicians are beginning to realise the important role of the artistic industry to national development.

He assured Nana Addo of his colleague actors and actresses support of his government, and urged other political leaders to also show interest in the industry to ensure its growth.

The other unions, including the Ghana Association of Phonographic Industry, Professional Musicians Association of Ghana and Ghana Concert Parties Union, all voiced their readiness to make Nana Addo’s ambition of leading the country become a reality in order for him to move the industry to another pedestal.

Earlier, Nana Addo assured all the players in the entertainment, art and culture industry of the necessary support needed to boost the growth of the industry when given the nod in the December polls.

He underscored the role of the industry to the country’s development and pledged that he would make it part of Ghana’s Development agenda, adding that over the years, the industry has helped in Ghana’s development, hence the need "to further give it a push to make it gain more recognition on the international market".

Those in the industry needed not be poor, he said, since they have all it takes to create wealth for themselves and therefore. He urged them to put in their maximum best in order to be successful.

Those who attended included C.K Mann, Paapa Yankson, Kojo Antwi, Agya Koo Nimo, Mac Tonto,Amakye Dede, Ms.Grace Omaboe, Nana Amma McBrown, Teacher Africana, Paa George, Jewel Ackah, Orlando Julius, Tic Tac, A-Plus, Wutah, Praye, Ex-Doe and Comedian Bob Okala.