Dancehall artiste Charles Nii Armah Mensah, widely recognised as Shatta Wale, has advocated for the dissolution of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, arguing that the institution has failed to introduce meaningful and innovative interventions capable of advancing Ghana’s creative sector.
The celebrated musician expressed dissatisfaction with what he described as the ministry’s limited visible impact on the creative economy, particularly regarding the support available to musicians, actors and other professionals whose work continues to attract audiences within Ghana and across the international community.
Speaking during an interview with GHOne TV on Friday, August 28, Shatta Wale questioned the absence of fresh programmes and practical initiatives designed to address the needs of people operating within the creative industry.
According to the musician, Ghanaian creatives contribute significantly to the country’s cultural visibility and international reputation, yet many of them do not appear to receive adequate institutional assistance from the government.
He argued that the ministry should adopt a more proactive approach by identifying creative professionals whose projects have demonstrated the ability to attract significant attention both domestically and internationally, and subsequently providing them with the necessary support to expand their work.
Shatta Wale maintained that musicians, actors and other creative professionals should not be left to navigate the industry entirely on their own when their artistic output is simultaneously helping to project Ghanaian culture and identity to audiences outside the country.
He further questioned why the ministry does not actively approach creatives behind projects that are already generating international interest and explore ways of partnering with them to increase their reach and impact.
The dancehall star suggested that government support should extend beyond conventional programmes and instead focus on innovative initiatives capable of producing measurable benefits for people working across Ghana’s creative ecosystem.
His criticism places renewed attention on the role and effectiveness of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, particularly at a time when Ghana continues to promote its music, film, fashion, cultural heritage and other creative products as important components of the country’s international image and economic development.
Shatta Wale’s comments also reflect a broader demand for stronger collaboration between government institutions and creative professionals, with the musician insisting that those who successfully promote Ghana through their work should be identified, recognised and supported through practical government interventions.
The remarks are likely to generate further discussion about whether existing government programmes are sufficiently responsive to the rapidly changing creative economy and whether more innovative approaches are required to help Ghanaian artists and other creative professionals compete effectively on the international stage.
