THE REX OMAR “STEP” DID NOT REFLECT

Yesterday during the President’s  address at the Conference Center in Accra, outlining his policies for the next four months of his governance, many arts and entertainment enthusiasts expected His Excellency to draw attention on the arts but the situation was not so.

The arts and culture in Ghana, is not highly regarded, recently as it was once discussed on the pundit show on GHone  hosted by George Quaye and his team of panel on the topic ‘until when will the politician take the arts industry serious’.

Rex Omar who was on that panel, looked like he did not only poor his sentiments on that show, but took it to the Conference center by boldly facing the President with a one bullet question about the arts.

Even though the President answered the question very openly, it will interest readers of 18newspaper to know that, the bold step taken by our veteran musician did not reflect any where.

This morning 18newspaper monitored majority of TV news item in circulation, read most of the non entertainment newspapers and also listened to most of the radio morning shows, to our dismay, Uncle Rex and his arts question did not matter to these guys at all.

One will ask, did the entertainment or lifestyle related shows both on TV and radio dissect the issue, trying to take the government on by asking them how soon should the arts question asked be looking for immediate response, just like how media prone to know how the health, all inclusive government, among other issues raised by the President will be looked at? The answer is a big NO.

18newspaper would want to take readers through a journey, remember when the ministry of trade said, the arts and culture industry should make a business case before government can attend to us? Well, we never did, Mrs. Hannah Tetteh said this to this industry when she addressed the Ghana music forum three years ago and up till now, no business case has been made.

A few things to draw your attention more, have you noticed that after the speech from the president, all major news items have taken upon themselves to constructively analyze the content of the speech delivered. Most of these analyses have been on Health, politics, education, job creation, and the likes, leaving out the arts and Culture. 

No one, not even TV / radio station whose slogan revolves around entertainment did even refer to the fact that, a arts and culture representative did ask a question during yesterday’s address.

So until when will those in the arts and culture be taken serious? Until when will the politician notice that the arts and culture is actually the fastest and sure way to a high increase in foreign exchange? 

Well, We at 18newspaper believe that, until the non entertainment papers, radio / TV programs give us a helping hand for with only our medium we can’t do it all. If the Rex Omar step had even reflected in the Daily Guide entertainment page, or the Daily Graphic arts and culture page, or the Crusading Guide or let’s say it was highly discussed during the TV3 7GMT news item or during the Visat 1 this Morning News Summary and the rest, then Yes, it will be a wakeup call for the government together with his fellow politicians to see the need for the arts.

What everybody is interested in is the health, education, infrastructure and the social likes of which are very important to the country, no doubt but remember the art is also another sector which is every day patronized just like yesterday when the national anthem was played, isn’t that good music to the ear.

Mr. President, if you want to help the private sector develop more by making government a partner, then a look at the arts and culture sector which is a more capital driven venture should be your call, Good morning.

Story: Nana Yaw Wiredu / www.18newspaper.com