The leadership of the Foundation of Concerned Arts Professionals (FOCAP) has met with officials of Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture regarding the group's intended picketing which was slated for Wednesday, August 29, 2024 at the forecourt of the ministry's premises.

The roundtable discussion sought to address FOCAP's concerns which precipitated the idea of the picketing.

FOCAP had demanded the establishment of the Creative Arts Agency Board and the appointment of Executive Secretary for the Creative Arts Agency.

According to a statement released by FOCAP, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr John Yao Agbeko, informed the team that the ministry had received clearance from all necessary allied agencies and ministries, and that by the end of August 2024, recruitment for a skeleton staff to occupy various positions will be concluded for the operationalization of the Creative Arts Agency office.

They also noted that a" copy of the approved Organogram was presented to the team and we were assured that interviews for the various positions will start immediately."

The officials of the ministry also explained to constitute the Board, that they needed "to get the skeleton staff that will execute the orders of the BOARD in place first, after which the domains will be formally be invited to appoint their representatives to the board as required by the Creative Arts Agency Act 1048."

FOCAP further indicate in their statement that they was assured of another encounter with the leadership of the ministry to finally deal with the BOARD and EXECUTIVE SECRETARY issues before the scheduled picketing.

"FOCAP is assuring all allies, creatives, media, associations and members of FOCAP that we are poised to see sanity prevail and systems and structures working. FOCAP promises to keep all and sundry updated at every stage of our negotiations," the release states.