Actor and Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayawaso West Wuogon, John Dumelo, has intimated that it takes more to become a minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture than just being a creative.

He made this statement on the back of calls to appoint a creative arts person to the position of Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, in President John Mahama's new government.

John Dumelo has stated that the ministry should be given to people who with the vision to champion the well-being and welfare of the creative industry and not necessarily practitioners of the space.

Speaking to Graphic Showbiz, John Dumelo said: “I perfectly understand the position of my people but I think that being a Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture goes beyond being a creative.

What is more important is to be visionary and seek the welfare of the players you represent at the ministry. Who can best represent the ideals and goals, and equally understand the policies of the sector? That’s what is important to me and not whether the person is a Creative or not."

This particular ministry (formerly known as Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts) was created by John Mahama when he first assumed the reins of government in 2013. Hitherto, there was a separate ministry for tourism, and culture was affixed to the chieftaincy ministry. Arts was conspicuously missing from the equation.

This action by John Mahama was possibly precipitated by calls from creative arts industry stakeholders to either have an autonomous ministry for their sector or be adjoined to one that prominently aligned with its characteristics. 

A lot of creative industry people have suggested that the sector would do better if the past ministers are chosen from the industry. The closest creatives have come to the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture position was the appointment of Abla Dzifa Gomashie (2013-2017) and Mark Okraku Mantey (2021-2024) as deputy ministers.

Ahead of the appointment to the position by President John Dramani Mahama, names such as Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Baba Sadiq and Rex Omar have come up in conversations.

It is believed that with their wealth of experience, the lot might fall on any of afore-mentioned as the President makes his choice.