Mark Okraku Mantey, Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, has charged practitioners in the Ghanaian film industry to keep up with changing trends in the industry so that it does not fall behind in terms of its potential on the African continent.
The minister, a creative himself, believes that new training regimes and the demands that come with them must be in the best interests of all stakeholders.
The minister attended a stakeholder engagement in Kumasi for film producers, directors, actors, and actresses.
“Programs of this kind are very important for the creative industry in particular, it’s an industry we must admit a greater number in there did not get a formal education, not education like Maths and English but the education like what Ivan Quashigah and co have gotten. There are a lot here who do not have that, so it is such capacity training that will help people in the industry up their game”
“Even with training, whatever you have learnt there is evolution and one must go for a top-up, so anyone who claims he is on top of the game and does not need any capacity building is just deceiving him or herself.
The Minister was however concerned with the poor attendance by the stakeholders in the creatives in the Ashanti region, especially Kumasi the home of Kumawood.
“I expected more people in this room then I am seeing because in my relatively younger days any time I heard discussions or education about the arts, you would always find me there. Even if I am not called, I find my way there because it is free education. If this industry will progress, education is key. Please our brothers who could not participate kindly communicate the education to them”
“I am however grateful to all of you who managed to get here” he retorted.
Source: Mynewsgh.com
