The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mark Okraku-Mantey, has called on Ghanaian creative industry players to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) to remain competitive in the global market.

Speaking at the 5th edition of Joy FM's Showbiz Roundtable, themed ‘Manifesto Debate On Creative Economy,’ Mr Okraku-Mantey stressed the importance of integrating AI into the operations of creative professionals, particularly in music and film production.

“If you think digital, automatically AI comes to mind, especially in the arts, particularly music,” Okraku-Mantey said.

He highlighted the increasing use of AI in music production, warning that traditional roles such as sound engineering could become obsolete if industry players do not adapt quickly.

He therefore creatives to be proactive rather than reactive to technological advancements.

“The digitalisation centre in Ghana must sensitise people, and our schools must ensure that the AI concept becomes part of our DNA so we don't often become reactive," he stated.

He criticised the tendency of the local creative sector to only adopt new technologies when they are already outdated, a practice that has hindered the industry’s growth.

Mr Okraku-Mantey also emphasised the role of creative schools in preparing students to navigate the evolving digital landscape, urging them to prioritise AI education to ensure graduates are ready to compete globally.

“AI is a global product, so if you delay, you might end up getting out of business,” he warned.

The Showbiz Roundtable, attended by industry stakeholders, focused on how policies could shape the future of Ghana's creative economy, with AI and digitalisation taking centre stage in the discussions.