Bnoskka
Creative Arts Business and Intellectual Property Consultant, Benjamin Oduro Arhin Jnr, popularly known as Bnoskka, met with cultural professionals and music stakeholders on Tuesday in a consultative meeting to get their feedback on the 2004 cultural policy review that is currently underway.
The first stakeholders’ consultation meeting was held at GNAT Hall Adabraka, Accra.
Bnoskka, who is National Expert of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Aschberg programme of Ghana.
Speaking at the meeting, Bnoskka explained that the purpose of the consultative gathering with cultural experts and music stakeholders was to get their input on the ongoing 2004 cultural policy review.
He claims that the gathering also asked for their opinions on the training programme for 400 up-and-coming artistes in Ghana’s creative and cultural sectors.
“Empowering artistes through policy formulation and robust legal framework: An engagement with artistes on inputs into cultural policy, copyright and other relevant laws” was the focus of the stakeholders’ consultation.
Bnoskka gave an overview of the UNESCO Aschbergprogramme’s goals and the necessity for artistes and other cultural professionals to submit their work for consideration in the 2004 cultural policy review.
This will allow them to integrate the policy into their individual practices in Ghana.
The meeting was chaired by the Executive Director of National Commission on Culture (NCC), Nana Otuo Owoahene Acheampong, and graced by the UNESCO Ghana Representatives, NATCOM, and 26 stakeholders’ representatives.
In addition to expressing gratitude to the stakeholders, Bnoskka urged them to tell their respective members about the UNESCO Aschberg initiative, which aims to empower, promote, protect, and assist artistes and other cultural workers in Ghana, as well as the ongoing 2004 cultural policy review.
Bnoskka hinted that information on sponsorship and grants, as well as details about the UNESCO Aschberg programme’s activities, are shared on the newly established Telegram page, Aschberg Ghana.
UNESCO works to safeguard and advance artistic freedom, the standing of artists and cultural workers, and the equitable exchange of cultural goods and services through the UNESCO-Aschberg  programme.
The initiative looks at issues including human rights and the exchange of cultural commodities and services. It offers technical support, resources, and tools to help settings that encourage creativity and growth.
By George Clifford Owusu