The Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Andrew Egyapa Mercer, unveiled the first Creative Arts Hall of Fame in Sekondi as part of activities marking the World Tourism Day Celebrations on Friday 27th September,2024.
The historic celebration honours the rich cultural heritage of Sekondi as the hub of music and paid tribute to the extraordinary talents that have fuelled the country’s vibrant creative sector.
The music hall of fame site, ‘’Duawusu,” is located at Asamansudu, a suburb of Sekondi and was the place where according to folklore, a lot of Ghanaian music talent was unearthed.
The Hall of Fame draws inspiration from renowned institutions worldwide, which honours the lifetime achievements of pioneers in the Creative Arts industry.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, the Minister highlighted the significant role of the creative arts sector to the Ghanaian economy.
“The creative arts sector is not only a vital contributor to our economy but also fuels tourism, stimulates export revenues, and creates numerous job opportunities,” he said.
He added that, the halls of fame stooled as a testament to the power of creativity in shaping our world and driving economic growth.
The inaugural class of inductees honoured some of Ghana’s most iconic figures in the creative arts, including Paapa Yankson, AB Crentsil, Felicia Abban, Ebo Taylor, Kwaw Ansah, Jewel Ackah, Joris Watenburg, Mike Eghan, Ray Allen, Gyedu Blay Ambolley, CK Mann, and Nana Bosompra.
According to the sector minister, the first list of inductees had enriched our cultural heritage and elevated Ghana’s presence on the global stage.
The Minister indicated that, the National Creative Arts Hall of Fame will be integrated into the ongoing renovations at the Centre for National Culture (CNC) in Sekondi.
He stated that plans are already in place to replicate this initiative across the country, ensuring that every region has a platform to celebrate its unique creative talents.
To maintain the momentum of recognition, the Minister announced that new inductees will be added annually as part of each years World Tourism Day celebrations, ensuring continuous acknowledgment of the contributions made by Ghana’s artists, musicians, filmmakers, and cultural icons.
The CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Akwasi Agyeman, thanked the various stakeholders in the industry whose input led to the successful completion of the project. He extended his heartfelt gratitude to the community of Sekondi for their unwavering support in making the Creative Arts Hall of Fame a reality. “Together, let us celebrate our national heroes and continue to promote the arts and culture that make Ghana truly unique,” he concluded.
Present at the Ceremony were industry captains, traditional leaders, religious leaders and various youth groups. An official induction ceremony is slated for the 22nd October 2024.
Earlier in the day, there was a seminar held at the Sekondi Youth Centre, (formerly Optimism Club) on the theme “Tourism and Peace” which was attended by traditional authorities particularly the Chief from Lower Discove, Nana Akyemene Nkrumah, industry players, the Staff of the Metropolitan Assembly, and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture as well as students from second cycle institutions in the metropolis.
There was also a Clean-Up exercise and a Musical Concert at the Komfoase Square at the Sekondi Market Area on Saturday 28th September 2024 and this was crowned with a Thanksgiving Service on Sunday 29th September 2024 at the St Andrews Anglican Church in Sekondi and was followed by a friendly football match in the afternoon.
