Whitney Boakye shocked as NDC manifesto neglects ‘year of return’

Whitney Boakye-Mensah

Showbiz expert and event organiser Whitney Boakye-Mensah has expressed disappointment with the NDC Manifesto 2024, criticising it for neglecting the creative arts sector.

While appearing on the August 24, 2024 edition of United Showbiz, Whitney highlighted the significant contributions of the “Year of Return” and “Beyond Return” initiatives to Ghana’s tourism and economy.

She said she was surprised that the manifesto did not mention or propose any continuation of these successful initiatives, despite their importance to the creative arts community.

“I am surprised that in a manifesto like this, there is no continuation or mention of this project. Because these are the initiatives that involve many actors in the art world,” she said.

She also criticised policy makers for their narrow focus on performances and actors, often neglecting the wider creative arts industry.

“I don’t know what discussions are taking place in the corridors of power because they are limited to a few groups of people. So when policies are made, they are not even open to other actors to see what is in them,” she noted.

The expert called for a more inclusive approach in policy-making, stressing the need for tax incentives and support for creators, especially those who import event items.

She urged the creative community to move beyond political banter and focus on practical discussions that could lead to tangible improvements in the sector.

“Can we, as creators, stop this back and forth and ask ourselves what we can bring to our industry that can benefit us?

“Because when other sectors hold government to account, the speed at which government does things for them doesn’t happen for us, and we need to change that,” Boakye-Mensah concluded.