Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
The Vice President and flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has pledged to advance the legacy of the ‘Year of Return’ initiative, and introduce key initiatives to support Ghana’s music and creative arts industry, if elected in 2025.
During a lecture titled, ‘Ghana’s Next Chapter: Selfless Leadership and Bold Solutions for the Future’ at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, Dr. Bawumia outlined his vision for the future of Ghana’s tourism and creative industries.
One of the major initiatives proposed by Dr. Bawumia is the introduction of digital and streaming platforms for artistes, aimed at providing a sustainable revenue stream for players in the music industry.
“We will introduce other initiatives such as digital and streaming platforms for our artistes to make tourism and the creative arts a growth pole in Ghana,” he said.
This initiative aims to fulfill the unfulfilled promise made by the current government in 2020, and build on the foundation laid by the ‘Year of Return’ and ‘Beyond the Return’ campaigns.
Additionally, Dr. Bawumia pledged to implement an e-visa policy for all international visitors to Ghana, streamlining the visa application process and promoting tourism and job creation.
“To boost tourism and job creation, my government will implement an e-visa policy for all international visitors to Ghana to enable visas to be obtained in minutes, subject to security and criminal checks,” he indicated.
Furthermore, he promised to provide tax incentives for film producers and musicians, aiming to alleviate the tax burden on creatives and stimulate growth in the creative arts sector.
The announcement comes as Ghana prepares for its upcoming presidential elections in December 2024, where Dr. Bawumia is set to face off against former President John D. Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
With these promises, Dr. Bawumia aims to position Ghana as a hub for tourism and creativity, fostering economic growth and job creation while supporting the country’s vibrant arts and culture scene.