Abeiku Santana
Deputy CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Abeiku Santana, has pushed back against claims that the creative arts sector was sidelined in the 2025 budget.
Speaking on Okay FM on September 16, Santana stressed that while the budget may not have contained an explicit allocation for the industry, the sector is still receiving funding through ongoing initiatives.
“Just because the President said an allocation is going to be made for the creative arts doesn’t mean no money was spent on the body this year,” he argued. “We are spending. A lot of things are going on. Look at the Black Star Experience; they are moving around, getting things in motion. The Creative Arts Agency is also moving around, planning things out. So there is some funding for all that.”
He explained that the specific budgetary allocation promised by President John Dramani Mahama would come in 2026.
“What the budget will be for is when they finally release a proper timeline of events. Then the amount needed will be given to them. That is what the President meant by a budgetary allocation will be made next year,” Abeiku Santana clarified.
The tourism boss urged creatives and the general public to remain patient, assuring them that government structures and funding for the sector were in place.
President Mahama recently reaffirmed his commitment to the industry, promising allocations in the 2026 budget to support film, music, and the wider creative economy.