FOCAP has realized with keen concern the urgency and the passion the Ghana Revenue Authority is
campaigning for the payment of taxes by the general populace and the irony of how we are letting
go of some sources of revenue in connection with the creative arts industry.
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We have noticed that over the years we have lost a lot of revenue through the non payment of work
permit by creative arts professionals from other parts of the world that come to Ghana. Over the
years, creative arts professionals who have come to Ghana to ply their trade, have entered our
country without any form of work permit to give them restrictions and to generate revenue for our
country. Musician, Actors, Actresses and a lot of Creative Arts Professionals come to work in Ghana,
get paid and export the money out of Ghana without any work permit or income tax liability on
them.
Creative arts professionals from Ghana to other parts of the world have always paid this levy/tax to
their visiting countries through event promoters, production houses and others. FOCAP believes it is
time the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture, the National Commission
on Culture, Musician’s Union of Ghana, Ghana Music Rights Organization (GHAMRO), Film Producers
Association, Ministry of Finance and all the relevant domains come to the drawing board to institute
some form of by law that would establish the payment of work permit by foreign nationals who
come to ply their trade here.
FOCAP wishes to also recommend that a percentage of this revenue should be earmarked for the
creative arts fund to be distributed to all the welfare funds under the various domains such as
Ageing Musicians Welfare Fund instituted by the Musician Union of Ghana.
FOCAP believes this is a revenue stream if reviewed properly would generate funds that can be
targeted at the creative arts industry. We also wish to suggest that, bearing in mind the very cordial
marriage between tourism and creativity, a percentage of the tourism levy should be seeded for the
development and empowerment of the welfare funds under the various creative arts domains.
FOCAP believes the sector Minister Mad. Catherine Afeku should be the lead of this discussion to
make sure this is instituted under her watch and to also setup the board for the National Commission
on Culture to run effectively because the full capacity of the commission would be needed in
implementing such a measure.
FOCAP still awaits the appointment of the Executive Secretary by H.E President Nana Addo Dankwa
Akufo Addo to the National Film Authority and the setting up of the board of the National Film
Authority by the sector Minister (MOTAC).
Kojo Preko Dankwa
Convener
0576655656
9TH January 2018
Mel Kwesi Davis
Convener
0246550298
Enoch Agyapong
Member
0244712136
