Listen to GAAD too

Very often, reports about players in the arts and entertainment industry going out of business flood the various media outlets. Their bone of contention has been the unavailability of policies that will put in place structures that will serve their interest.

The latest sector to join the “fray” is the Ghana Association of Audio-visual Distribution (GAAD) who are lamenting about the dwindling fortunes of their business which is also having dire consequences on the other sectors of the industry.

According to GAAD, the sector has suffered for a very long time due to its lack of recognition by successive governments and failure to initiate policies that seek their business welfare which would boost their industry as well.

Many reasons were cited among which include piracy and the inability to curb the use of hard drives and other means to download and distribute songs and movies, which has become one of the major hindrances to the growth of the sector.

Showbiz believes the concerns of GAAD must not be treated lightly but must be addressed to save the industry from dying.

It’s not surprising that some actors have also added their voice to the call for proper policies to be put in place to save the industry. Last year, Yvonne Nelson made her voice heard on the issue and more recently, Bibi Bright confirmed that all is not well with the industry.

Truly, if all was well with the industry, there probably would not be the need to appeal for funds from some of the older generation of actors and musicians who are living in abject poverty despite their selfless contribution to the country.

While supporting the industry players on their call for government’s intervention by initiating policies that will protect their works and sweat and in turn give them  something to fall on when they are out of active business, Showbiz also calls for a unified front for the sector.

The individual and groups’ interests and ambitions which have given rise to the existence of multiple associations within the sector must be discouraged. 

Obviously, it doesn’t promote a collective goal and doesn’t augur well for the creative arts industry as well.