Oxfam Forum With Artists

Chris Martin A rare forum of artists took place in Accra last Monday at which a select crop of Ghanaian composers, musicians, actors and cultural activists shared ideas over how to move the industry forward.

Initially the meeting was called by the Ghana office of Oxfam of Great Britain who were playing host to Chris Martin, the British rock star on a 5-day visit to Ghana.

Chris Martin, a multi Grammy award winner was in Ghana to visit Oxfam programmes and interact with a cross section of farmers in Northern, Upper East and Ashanti regions as part of Oxfam?s ?Make Trade Fair Campaign?.

As his contribution and commitment towards minimising the effect of unjust policies and practices on peasant farmers, Chris joined the campaign against unfair trade practices of rich nations and multi national institutions.

Chris Martin?s meeting with the Ghanaian artists was therefore meant to promote this campaign among musicians, actors and cultural activists so that they can also be energised to take it up in their endeavours.

The meeting attended by such heavy weights as George Darko, Pat Thomas, Nana Danso Abiam, Mac Tontoh, Kojo Antwi, Amandzeba Nat Brew, David Dontoh, Stan Plange, Akofa Adjeani, Rex Omar, Panji Anoff, Oscar Provencal, Mary Yirenkyi and Bright, acknowledged the role that artists can play in harnessing and directing public opinion.

In the main, however, the discussion centred on the work environment of artists in Ghana which was described variously as unfriendly, stifling and not conducive to creativity. ?We ourselves are endangered species. How do we champion any global cause?? David Dontoh asked.
Issues that were raised which were considered as not helpful to the cause of artists in Ghana included inadequate security and absence of working tools.

It was observed that if for nothing, the Oxfam meeting brought together artists in Ghana to talk about their condition and that of the arts industry as a whole. To facilitate other such meetings among local artists, Oxfam made a generous donation to enable the artists to keep talking.