Highlife musician, Rex Omar is unhappy with the New Patriotic Party government for failing to honour its 2016 promises to the creative arts industry.
Speaking on Accra based Hitz FM on Monday, August 24, 2020, Rex Omar recalled that the NPP, prior to the 2016 elections, promised to build theaters in nine regions as well as pass the Creative Artist Bill but has failed to fulfil the promises upon assumption of power. This, he opined, amounts to a deceit of the people of the industry.
According to him, the NPP’S failure to apologize for deceiving the industry players but rather resort to making new promises to them is an indication that the party has no regard for the industry. He asserted that the party should have stuck to its old promises instead of making new ones.
“Somebody who said he will come and build nine theatres in nine regions, he has not been able to build one. When somebody lies to you, gives you a promise and he is not able to deliver even 1 percent and then turns around, look straight in your eyes and gives you another promise. What does that mean? It means he has no respect or regard for you,” he told host of Day Break Hitz, Andy Dosty.
The New Patriotic Party at the launch of its manifesto at UCC in Cape Coast of the Central Region announced among others to build a digital platform for artists to help market their products if the party wins the 2020 elections.
But commenting on the promise, the Abiba hit maker described the party as being clueless in matters relating to the creative arts industry. He contended that there are various artistic works in the industry hence it does not make sense to make such a vague promise without indicating the artistic products that the platform would be marketing.
“They (NPP) don’t have a clue. If you say you will build a digital platform to sell products of artiste, what does that mean? What type of artistic products are they talking about? Is it music, film, sculpture or kente?” he squeezed.
Mr. Omar who is also the president of Ghana Music Rights Organization (GHAMRO) bemoaned the struggles his outfit had to go through to get assistance from foreign companies to lodge artists works though the NPP promised to aid the industry in that regard. Just like it failed to fulfil its 2016 manifesto promises, he said the promises made to the industry in the party’s 2020 manifesto would also not be fulfilled.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) in its manifesto for the tourism and creative sector ahead of the 2016 elections, promised to build nine theatres in nine regions. It also promised to pass the Creative Arts Bills.
Vice president, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia disclosed at a recently held town hall meeting and results fair that cabinet has passed the Creative Arts Bills and it is expected to be approved by parliament later this year.
