Enock Agyapong, a leading member of FOCAP
The Foundation of Concerned Arts Professionals (FOCAP) has called on the Ghana Police Service to investigate the unlawful arrest of the organisers of this year’s Chale Wote Festival which was held on Saturday, August 21.
The organisers of the event who were arrested for flouting government’s ban on large gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic are Mantse Ayikwei, Nii Ayitei and Kweku Ananse.
A statement issued by FOCAP in Accra sighted by BEATWAVES accused Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) of being the brain behind the arrest of the organisers.
It said AMA had earlier issued a press statement to halt the festival and an attempt made by the organisers to seek audience with the Accra mayor was turned down with an excuse that the mayor was not available.
FOCAP mentioned that the order was from above to derail and attack the festival, and AMA announced ahead of the celebration that this year’s event will be virtual due to the upsurge in COVID-19.
FOCAP indicated that although the Accra mayor had refused to grant the organisers audience, Jamestown Police Commander and other officials had discussions with the organisers and safety measures were put in place.
“FOCAP can say, even on that faithful day (Saturday), the Fort was working where staff were at the venue ticketing tourists and strictly enforcing COVID-19 measures and therefore the arrest of the organisers and subsequent 48hrs detention in police custody must be genuinely investigated,” the statement said.
The statement added that FOCAP sees the arrest of the organisers as an attack on the creative arts industry, describing it as very unfortunate.
According to FOCAP, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture must also intervene to prevent further harassment and attack on the organisers of the annual Chale Wote Festival as well as other event organisers.
It revealed that the very ministry under the then minister, Catherine Afeku, sponsored this same festival for it to become one of the best festivals in Africa and also attract more tourists to the country.
“If the Ministry believes in the drive of creative arts and what the world is now seeing as the source of revenue and attraction, the cry for the full establishment of our Creative Arts Agency (CAA) to help mitigate and help smooth operations of the Creative Arts in this country is urgently needed,” FOCAP pointed out.
FOCAP advised the organisers of the Chale Wote Festival to seek legal advice to retrieve any funds lost in these hard times as a result of the actions of the AMA.
By George Clifford Owusu