Today, GHBase.com brings you, a list of talented politicians who went into politics or public service but woefully failed to use their position and influence to help grow Ghana’s creative art or showbiz industry.
When one attends musical concerts and other entertainment related events and often sees our invited politicians, usually as special guests or given VIP seats, sometimes one could be tempted to ask: ‘Do these people (politicians) enjoy themselves at such events at all? Or what at all do they have in common with entertainment or showbiz?’
Well, GHBase.com did a research on some of them and the findings we gleaned will not only take one aback, but also, make one more disappointed in politicians in Ghana. Read below, the list of talented politicians who have failed Ghana’s showbiz industry woefully!
Ex-President Jerry John Rawlings of the NDC, unknown to many, is a keyboardist. Indeed, Mr. Rawlings has keyboard in each of his built houses which he plays from time to time. Ex-President John Agyekum Kuffour of the NPP too, is a good keyboard player. Late Courage Quarshigah of the NPP was a perfect guitar player, composer and singer.
Ato Ahwoi (of the Ahwoi family) of the NDC is a great singer, composer and plays instruments too. Jake Obetsebi Lamptey Otanka of the NPP is an actor. In fact he started acting in movies as far back as the late 60s. Mr. Totobi Kwakye of the NDC is a perfect guitarist. Mr. Kwakye is the owner of the popular Western Diamond Band.
Kofi Porturphy of the NDC is a blunt circle actor who has acted with celebrated movie stars such as Grace Omaboe, David Dontoh, Kofi Adjorlolo and others in many theatrical performances in Black Star Theatre Group, Accra Arts Center and the National Theatre.
Fritz Baffour of the NDC is a fantastic actor, comedian and MC. For the records, Uncle Fritz is one of the pioneers of stand-up comedy in Ghana. Honourable Nkrabea Effah Dateh of the NPP is a professional stage actor, scriptwriter and a singer.
Mr. Nkrabea is the founder of Theatre Mirrors – a drama group formed in the 80s. It has sired household named actors such as: Grace Omaboe, David Dontoh, Emmanuel Armah, Kalsum Sinare, Yaw Sakyi ( formerly of The Rundown fame), and others.
Honourable Adu Asare of the NDC is an actor and has even come public before to say he wouldn’t mind being casted for movies. E.T. Mensah of the NDC is a great vocalist/singer. Our current President, John Dramani Mahama of the NDC is a prolific writer (author) – authored a memoir titled ‘My First Coup D’état’ and other true stories from the lost decades of Africa.
If sport is part of entertainment, then, our late President, John Evans Fiifi Attah Mills, was an excellent sports (hockey player) man and a swimmer; so is Nana Akufo Addo (footballer). Otiko Afisah Djaba, of NPP was the host of the kids morning entertainment show called ‘Kokroko’ aired in the early 2000 on GTV. There could be more of them.
All the above were and some still are in politics but failed to help the arts industry grow to greater heights. It’s as though as soon as they got or get into politics, their arts incision dies. All the above politicians got into political leadership positions or public service but could not or cannot lobby, push or advocate in any meaningful ways to help the creative arts industry.
The very recent creative arts persons to enter into political leadership are Queen Mother Abla Dzifa Gomashie of NDC – Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts and Otiko Afisah Djaba of NPP – National Women Organizer. Would they also end up like the others or live up to expectation? Only time will tell. Until then…MOTWUM!!
