Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Hon. Yussif Issaka Jajah, has called for greater efforts to ensure that Ghanaian creatives benefit financially from the country’s cultural and entertainment products.
He said Ghana had a long history of producing compelling stories and films, but the financial returns from their distribution had not always benefited the creators and communities behind them.
Speaking at the launch of MTN One TV, a Pan-African video streaming service, Mr Jajah said the platform presented an opportunity to change the situation by expanding access to Ghanaian content and creating greater value for the creative industry.
“Our stories travelled, our culture travelled, but too often the value and returns did not always come home,” he said.
He noted that Ghanaian productions had entertained audiences for generations, citing classic television programmes and films such as Osofo Dadzie, Kantata, Obra and Love Brewed in the African Pot as examples of the country’s rich storytelling heritage.
According to him, preserving Ghanaian culture must go beyond protecting traditions and historical works to creating sustainable livelihoods for the people who produce and promote them.
Mr Jajah said the government was working to strengthen discussions on intellectual property, local content quotas and professional training to improve the quality and commercial prospects of Ghanaian creative products.
He stressed that the creative industry needed stronger partnerships between content creators, telecommunications companies, technology providers, regulators and digital platforms to maximise the benefits of innovation.
The Deputy Minister commended MTN Ghana for introducing One TV, describing it as an important step towards giving Ghanaian content a dedicated platform with the potential to reach wider audiences.
He urged filmmakers, actors, producers and other creatives to take advantage of emerging digital opportunities to tell their stories boldly and profitably.
Mr Jajah expressed hope that the platform would open new markets for Ghanaian content, create opportunities for local talent and ensure that the country’s creative industry gains greater economic value from its work.
