"I must admit that before my appointment on February 14th, I had no knowledge or experience in the field of Tourism, Arts and Culture. Throughout my career, I had always worked as a lawyer until 2016 when I became a Member of Parliament representing the wonderful people of Sekondi.
During Nana Addo's second term, I was asked to assist Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh at the Ministry of Energy, where I had been working for the past few years."
Andrew Kofi Egyapa Mercer, however, wished he had been introduced to the sector earlier.
“Considering my engagements since my appointment, I wish I had been introduced to the sector earlier because it is an extremely interesting and exciting space with a huge potential for transforming our country and the economy. As I said, I don’t know much so I can only depend on you who know the sector, the industry, to help me so that I can help you,” he said.
Member of Parliament for the Sekondi Constituency in the Western Region of Ghana and Minister-designate for Tourism, Arts And Culture, Andrew Kofi Egyapa Mercer has called on practitioners in the industry to help make his administration successful.
Speaking with a section of industry practitioners in the Ashanti regional capital, Kumasi, on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, the minister-designate admitted he knew very little about the industry and would need the practitioners’ support to help improve the sector.
“Honestly, until February 14th (when I was appointed), I knew nothing about Tourism, Arts And Culture. I knew absolutely nothing about it. I always worked as a lawyer until 2016 when I went to parliament as a Member of Parliament representing the good people of Sekondi. Under Nana Addo’s second term, he asked me to assist Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh at the Ministry of Energy where I’d been working for the past few years.”
Andrew Kofi Egyapa Mercer, however, wished he had been introduced to the sector earlier.
“Considering my engagements since my appointment, I wish I had been introduced to the sector earlier because it is an extremely interesting and exciting space with a huge potential for transforming our country and the economy. As I said, I don’t know much so I can only depend on you who know the sector, the industry, to help me so that I can help you,” he said.
He also bemoaned the fact that successive governments have not shown keen interest in Culture and the Creative Arts, unlike Tourism.
“Unfortunately, successive governments have not paid attention to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. Even if they have, the focus has been more on Tourism rather than Creative Arts and Culture. That position, I think has to change. I admit tourism brings in a lot of revenue but it’s the arts, the culture, that would get people to want to come to Ghana and spend money here.”
Present at the meeting were creative arts practitioners including the Asanteman Nwonkro, Aboagye Dacosta, Asennua, Amenfi, Mr Samuel Nyamekye (Miracle Films), Augustina Addison, Kwaku Twumasi, Directors of the Centre for National Culture, Deputy Minister of Arts And Tourism, Mark Okraku Mantey, and others.
On Wednesday, February 14, 2024, President Akufo-Addo announced a new Minister for the Ministry of Arts and Tourism following a reshuffling in his government.
He is yet to be approved by Parliament.
