The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Candidate for Okaikoi Central, Sadiq Abdullai Abu, has strongly criticised the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) for failing to fulfill its promises to digitalise Ghana’s creative industry.

According to Mr Abu, the NPP is fond of repeating excuses rather than concrete actions to develop the sector.

He noted that despite being in power for nearly eight years, the government continues to delay by claiming to assess the feasibility of the initiative.

He said this while speaking at the 5th edition of Joy FM's Showbiz Round-table, themed ‘Manifesto Debate On Creative Economy,' on Saturday.

"The NPP needs to be told clearly that excuses simply don't build businesses or don't enable businesses. This particular promise of digitalising the creative industry was not only in 2020. This promise was also in 2016, and we are yet again experiencing another excuse for it.

“In 2020, they gave us the same explanation about ‘checking the feasibility of it’ and everything,” he stated.

The Parliamentary Candidate further expressed doubt about the New Patriotic Party's commitment to the creative sector.

Mr Abu argued that the Presidential Candidate of the NPP Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and the government do not view the culture, arts, and tourism industry as vital to national development, leading to a lack of progress in supporting the sector.

“I think they have failed on that, and going forward these excuses shouldn’t be tolerated by the industry,” he noted.

He subsequently urged stakeholders in the creative economy to demand accountability from political leaders.

The Showbiz Round-table served as a platform for key political figures and industry experts to engage in discussions about the creative economy ahead of the 2024 general election.