Creative Arts Agency and Expertise France Join Forces to Boost Ghana's Music Industry

Creative Arts Agency and Expertise France Join Forces to Boost Ghana's Music Industry
Mark Okraku-Mantey (left), Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, and Jules-Armand Aniambossou (right), French Ambassador to Ghana, displaying the document after signing the memorandum of understanding with Expertise France to support the expansion of music in Ghana. Picture: ESTHER ADJORKOR ADJEI

Creation Africa-Ghana has a two-year timeline and focuses on several key components. One aspect involves skills transfer, allowing Ghanaian music rights holders to access the global copyright market and encouraging business collaborations between the music industries of Ghana and France.

In a significant move to strengthen Ghana's music industry, the Creative Arts Agency (CAA) and Expertise France have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the implementation of Creation Africa-Ghana, a project aimed at expanding the sector.

The project, supported by a grant of €500,000 from the French government through the French Development Agency (AFD) and the French Ministry of Economy, seeks to promote an economically viable model while enhancing accessibility and credibility for artists.

Creation Africa-Ghana has a two-year timeline and focuses on several key components. One aspect involves skills transfer, allowing Ghanaian music rights holders to access the global copyright market and encouraging business collaborations between the music industries of Ghana and France.

The project also aims to support the structural development of the music industry, ensure fair remuneration and protection for creators and producers, establish music dissemination venues, and foster innovative Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives in music festivals between the two countries.

Gyankroma Akufo-Addo, the Chief Executive of CAA, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership and its potential to empower artists in the music industry. She emphasized the importance of professionalizing the creative industry platform, providing artists with ownership of their works, and digitizing the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO).

Akufo-Addo highlighted that the agreement aligns with CAA's mission to promote visibility, education, and protection within the industry, aiming to enhance how artists are compensated and how royalties are collected and distributed.

The French Ambassador, Jules-Armand Aniambossou, commended the collaborative project, recognizing its potential to stimulate the private sector in both countries' music industries.He mentioned the previous successful collaborations between French and Ghanaian artists, which led to joint concerts in Accra and Paris and a dialogue on collective copyright management in Ghana.

The ambassador highlighted the mutual commitment between France and Ghana and revealed plans for the subsequent Creation Africa-Ghana project, specifically designed to support young entrepreneurs in the Cultural and Creative Industries.

Mark Okraku-Mantey, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MoTAC), emphasized the economic significance of the creative arts industry, stressing that it has the potential to generate substantial revenue for the country.

Okraku-Mantey applauded the timely agreement, citing the Creative Arts Law as an indicator of Ghana's commitment to regulating the industry.

He called for collaboration between the creative arts industry and the parties involved in the project, highlighting the positive impact it would have on copyright protection. The Deputy Minister assured that both CAA and MoTAC would actively contribute to the successful implementation of the project.

The signing of the MoU between CAA and Expertise France marks a milestone in the efforts to strengthen and uplift Ghana's music industry.

With its focus on capacity-building, fair remuneration, and international collaborations, Creation Africa-Ghana aims to create a thriving and sustainable environment for Ghanaian artists, promoting their artistic heritage and contributing to the country's cultural and economic growth.

Source: Tellusghana || Naa Lamley 

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