Ghanaian broadcaster Austine Woode has expressed disappointment in the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, accusing her of failing to address some of the fundamental challenges confronting Ghana’s creative industry.

Speaking during the ninth edition of Joy FM’s Showbiz Roundtable on August 8, 2026, Austine Woode disclosed that he had expected more from the minister, particularly because she comes from the creative industry.

“I have a problem with our minister. She is from our stock, but she has failed for me,” he said.

According to him, the government’s approach to developing the creative sector has focused on initiatives that do not adequately address the basic infrastructure and structural challenges facing industry players.

He cited the introduction of Ghana’s new currency as an example of how creatives could contribute significantly to national projects, arguing that creatives played a role in giving the initiative visibility and relevance.

“When the Bank of Ghana and the government of Ghana were introducing the new currency, what comes to your mind when we talk about that? There’s no change in value. We creatives created that, including our minister. What has she been able to do for us?” he asked.

Austine, who said he is from Kumasi and considers himself a stakeholder in the creative industry there, also questioned the progress towards the construction of a theatre in the Ashanti Regional capital.

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He said he was unaware of any concrete engagement by the minister with stakeholders regarding the acquisition of land for the proposed Kumasi theatre.

“I am from Kumasi. Has she spoken to anybody about the land on which they will build the Kumasi theatre? I am a stakeholder there. When we went to Parliament to talk about the film village, I led it and I wrote the petition to Parliament,” he shared.

He explained that the minister had previously engaged stakeholders during discussions surrounding the film village project, arguing that he would therefore have been aware if similar consultations were taking place over the Kumasi theatre project.

“That time our minister met all of us. If she had had any conversation like that, I would know that they are looking for the land. They are not doing it,” he stated.

Austine further criticised what he described as a lack of clear direction in the ministry’s approach to creative industry development.

According to him, authorities appear to be pursuing several initiatives without first dealing with the foundational issues that could create sustainable growth for the sector.

“What they are doing is throwing things against the wall and the one that will stick, they come and highlight it. All of those things are not going to help the people,” he said.

The broadcaster called for a return to the basics, arguing that the government must prioritise infrastructure and other fundamental needs of the creative sector.

“Let us go to the basics and build from there. When we build from there, the whole industry will benefit from it; not what they are doing. They have failed,” he added.

FG/EB

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