Ghanaian music icon, Okyeame Kwame, recently made headlines after declining an offer to join the Manifesto Committee on Creative Arts for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
The committee, chaired by Juliet Yaa Asantewaa Asante, CEO of the National Film Authority, was established to draft manifesto policies for the creative arts sector.
The committee included musicians, actors, entrepreneurs, academics, and government officials, with Okyeame Kwame and actor Prince David Osei among the members.
In a statement issued a day after his inclusion in the committee, Okyeame Kwame cited his decision to maintain an apolitical stance as the reason for declining the position. He explained that although he initially agreed to join the committee, he later realized that his contractual obligations required him to remain neutral. As a result, he informed the relevant individual that he would only provide ideas rather than serve as an official member.
Despite his objection to officially being part of the committee, Okyeame Kwame’s name appeared on the list of selected individuals. This prompted him to issue a clarification letter stating his non-partisan terms and expressing his non-agreement to participate under political terms.
Okyeame Kwame attributed the situation to the volatile political landscape in Ghana, contrasting it with the United States where creatives can openly support political parties without repercussions. He lamented the lack of political neutrality in Ghana, stating that supporting a political party in the country can have negative consequences on an individual’s career.
