After a successful inauguration of John Dramani Mahama as the 6th President of the 4th Republic of Ghana, he is expected to make appointments for various positions.

For players in the Cultural and Creative Industries, who becomes the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture in Mahama’s second administration is very crucial. This particular ministry (formerly known as Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts) was created by John Mahama when he first assumed the reins of government in 2013. Hitherto, there was a separate ministry for tourism, and culture was affixed to the chieftaincy ministry. Arts was conspicuously missing from the equation.

This action by John Mahama was possibly precipitated by calls from creative arts industry stakeholders to either have an autonomous ministry for their sector or be adjoined to one that prominently aligned with its characteristics. While some people have argued that arts and culture be separated from tourism in that ministry, research proves that tourism is coterminous with arts culture and heritage; these elements are the engine of tourism.

This Trinity Ministry for the Orange Economy, since its inception has made some strides and shows signs of being very productive if it is handled better. While the tourism sector is more organised and structured, the culture and creative sectors are now at the “norming” stage where better legal frameworks and other documents are being fashioned out to make it more functional. This process started in Mahama’s first term when the “storming” and “forming” of the sector took place. 

The New Patriotic Party also continued with the process with some interventions and commitments, but to expedite action on activities in the ministry, we don’t just need a minister; we need a minister that understands the space of tourism, arts and culture; one that would know his way around in the scheme of things, one that wouldn’t take three years to acquaint him or herself with how the industry works, one that will not feel insecure working with a deputy that is creative arts savvy, one that will prove to the world this industry is really a cash cow. 

In my previous article titled ‘10 things Mahama must do in his first year’, I indicated that the President should appoint someone from the industry or someone who understands the operation and business of the turf as the minister. More importantly, I suggested that the President should not even appoint any deputy minister.

“No Deputy Minister: The President-Elect, John Dramani Mahama should scrap the deputy positions for most of the ministries including our Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. There is enough evidence to show that the deputy ministers are merely titular and perform little or no functions at all. When you hold them accountable, they tell you they are not in charge and that they just assist their bosses. 

Truly, they have never been in charge because the constitution does not put them in charge. Our ministry needs just one minister, particularly someone from our industry or someone who really understands the creative economy. 

There are directors and CEOs at the various institutions in the ministry who can always work with the minister. Under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture alone, we have the CEO of Ghana Tourism Authority, CEO of Ghana Tourism Development Company, CEO of National Film Authority, Director of National Commission on Culture, Executive Director of National Theatre, Director at National Folklore Board, Director of Creative Arts at the Ministry, Director of Tourism at the Ministry and Executive Secretary of Creative Arts Agency.”

The big question, therefore is, who will the President appoint as his minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture? Will it be a creative industry person or someone from outside? 

Baba Sadiq

One of the names that has come up in conversations regarding this ministerial appointment is Sadiq Abdulai Abu popularly known as Baba Sadiq. 

Baba Sadiq is a trained media and communications specialist, entrepreneur and a politician who has worked his way up in the African media and communications sustainability industries within the last 20 years. He has work in various capacities as a media and communications executive and an entreprenuer. 

Sadiq is the Founder and former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of 3 Media Networks Limited, operators of music media brand, 3Music TV and 3Music Awards. Sadiq is also founder and Executive director of the Wildaland Foundation an ESG foundation famed for the Wildaland festival. 

Prior to this role, Sadiq was the Founding Director of Africa’s number one digital streaming service Boomplay in Ghana leading the setting up of the streaming service’s office in Ghana, building a team and helping it acquire nearly 11 million users in Ghana as well content from every relevant Ghanaian and African content creators. 

Sadiq also previously worked for Modern Times Group (MTG) AFRICA as Viasat1 Ghana’s head of Programmes and own productions/executive producer, where he led the team to win 18 various awards within a year and a half period. At MTG AFRICA, Sadiq was also responsible for the pan-African TV channel, Trace TV’s operations in Ghana and led the launch of Airtel Trace Music Star reality show in Ghana. 

He also co-founded, Muse Africa, a millennial targeted lifestyle & Entertainment brand where he served as the founding CEO of the brand from 2015 to 2018. At Muse AFRICA, Sadiq also led the active citizenship campaign, #MuseParticipate in partnership with global non-governmental advocacy group, Oxfam International. 

In the past, Sadiq worked on and led various projects for Viacom International networks AFRICA, MTV Base and Rockstar400 where he worked on the famed One8 project, featuring R. Kelly and 8 other African talents working closely with the organisations West African Director to curate the experience and lead the launch activities in Burkina Faso, Chad and Niger for Airtel. Sadiq also worked as an associate producer in charge talents and event for the Vodafone 020Live project from its inception. In 2019, Sadiq worked as an associate producer of the Afronation Ghana via the Rave Group. 

Baba continues to impact the Ghanaian media & creative industry via his regular media appearance and punditry aside many other speaking/moderator opportunities in the industry. He was until now, a resident panellist on Joy FM’s entertainment flagship show, Showbiz A-Z which airs every Saturday afternoon. 

Aside all these, Sadiq is a politician, a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) where he served as the party’s elections 2020 campaign spokesperson on tourism, arts and culture. He was the NDC Parliamentary candidate for Okaikoi Central Constituency for the 2024 general elections and continues to be a key member of the party’s culture, arts and tourism manifesto committee as well as the Communications, Innovations & ICT manifesto committee. He also served on the branding and special messaging committee of the party for the 2024 elections. 

Sadiq has a Bachelors Degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from the African University College of Communications (AUCC).

In 2023, he founded and launched FulLCircL, a 360 specialist Pan-African entertainment agency specialising in live experiences, digital content production and publishing, PR and talent management.

Baba's experience in the Creative Economy is vast, considering his work in media, events, music business, tourism and heritage. Some have argued that on the back of all these achievements and the fact that he lost his parliamentary seat, he wouldn't have to double as an MP and a Minister - a situation which might take his attention from the ministry if given the nod. He would rather be more dedicated to the task.

Abla Dzifa Gomashie 

Abla Dzifa Gomashie is a renowned actress, film producer, scriptwriter and a revered politician.

She served as the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts in the National Democratic Congress during their tenure between 2013 and 2017 when John Mahama first created the ministry. Currently, she is the Member of Parliament for the NDC in the Ketu South Constituency and a also a Queen Mother in the Aflao Traditional Area.

Dzifa Gomashie holds a Master of Philosophy (2005-2008) in African Studies from the University of Ghana, a Bachelor of Fine Arts (2000-2003) with a First-Class Honors from the School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana, and a Diploma in Theatre Arts (1994-1998) from the same University.

She has an unbridled passion for arts, culture and heritage and has dedicated herself to advancing various causes in that regard. While she was the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, she played a huge role in laying the foundation for the review and drafting of documents such as the Ghana Culture Policy, Creative Arts Industry Bill, among other initiatives that are gradually taking shape in the sector.

She brought her wealth of experience in the industry to the appointment both within Ghana and internationally. She serves on the committee in FEPACI, the Film Federation of the African Union. She is also a member and rapporteur of the ECOWAS committee for the Reparation of Stolen Artefacts of Africa.

She was also instrumental in the formation of the Creative Arts Council (now Creative Arts Agency), a body that is supposed to regulate and coordinate the activities of the culture and creatives industries made up of thirteen sub-fields.

Some creative arts practitioners have posited that her relevant previous knowledge in working at the Ministry, makes her a good candidate for the position as the substantive minister (and not a deputy minister this time around). They believe with this experience, she stands a better chance of coming back to the ministry.

Rex Omar 

Another person that some have tipped as a potential nominee for the position is celebrated highlife musician Rex Owusu Marfo (Rex Omar), a staunch member of the NDC who has been very instrumental in the activities of the creative Industry including serving as Chairman of the Ghana Music Rights Organisation. 

Rex is one of the leading musicians in Ghana who he has also trained as a management professional specialising in intellectual property rights being one of the leading authorities on the subject in Ghana. 

He was originally elected as Chairman of the Ghana Music Rights Organization in March 2017 to serve a four year-term.

His talent and knowledge of the music industry has gained him several positions in the industry as a former Vice President of the Copyright Society of Ghana and a member of the 2013 Committee for National Intellectual Property and Policy Strategy. He is the former head of Business and Finance of the Musician Union of Ghana. Rex Omar is a Member of "SUISSA" Copyright Society of Switzerland and is on publishing contract with EMI (Germany).

On the political scene, Rex has been the advisor to the former president and minority Party, the National Democratic Congress advising the Party on the importance and development of the creative arts in the cultural and entertainment industry in Ghana. He has also been the Party’s public spokesperson on matters relating to this industry.

He is an astute creative entrepreneur who has made great strides with his music across the world. He is known for his knack for quality and is overall, a principled person.

The Orange Economy holds great promise for Ghana’s economy and for the new John Mahama administration to effectively tap into this prospect, he needs to choose someone who is not just a party member but one that has knowledge of the industry.

So will it be Baba, Dzifa or Rex? Only time will tell.

About the author

Kwame Dadzie is an arts and culture journalist with the Multimedia Group Limited (Joy FM). He is the host of the most authoritative entertainment talk show in Ghana, Showbiz A-Z on Joy 99.7FM.