Creative Arts Council of Ghana last Wednesday organized a town hall meeting and lunch for industry players to discuss and plan on a wide range of issues within the sector.
Speaking at a gathering held at the Accra Tourism Information Centre, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Honourable Catherine Afeku revealed that EXIM Bank and World Bank have approved 20million USD loan and 40million USD grant for the Creative Arts Industry to advance the operations of the sector.
She noted that the Creative Arts industry is an area that employs a lot of youth not just in Ghana; the more reason why they must be supported.
Afeku stated that the EXIM Bank ‘soft’ loan offer for the players in the sector is with an interest rate of 5% is also on the table of the Creative Arts Council.
The President of the Council revealed that his outfit is expecting GHȼ1.3 million after receiving 40% of GHȼ2.4 million budget for 2018.
In a statement by the President of the Council, Mark Okraku Mantey, outlining some activities and plans for 2019, he mentioned that the Council will begin re-registration of all persons under creative art.
He further mentioned that the Council will collaborate with the Spanish embassy in Ghana to select two music bands, after a competition involving 12 bands, to travel to Spain and be paid to perform at major festivals to be telecast live on television.
Okraku Mantey encouraged industry players to honour their tax responsibility and try to dialogue with the Ghana Revenue Authority when there are any doubts.
