The 9th Parliament of Ghana's Fourth Republic, which begins in January of next year, will include SIX prominent figures from the country's creative sector. Their election to the next Parliament has given creatives some hope that issues pertaining to their industry will receive more legislative attention.
These include media and entertainment executives Baba Sadiq (Okaikwei Central) and Ohene Kwame Frimpong (Asante Akyem North), actor John Dumelo (Ayawaso West Wuogon), musician Kwame Asare Obeng, also known as Kwame A Plus (Gomoa Central), actress Ebi Bright (Tema Central), and actress/film producer Dzifa Gomashie (Ketu South). Although Dzifa Gomashie has been representing Ketu South for the past four years, the election of the five other candidates in some ways shines a light on the entertainment sector.
The elected creative MPs claimed that their win made it abundantly evident that career politicians and people from specific professions were not the only ones who should pursue careers in politics. As well-known individuals, they acknowledged that there may be great expectations of them, but they were prepared to work for the benefit of their people and the country at large. He stated that politics and governance were not exclusive to any social class in an interview with Kwame A Plus on Tuesday, December 10. He was certain that his visit to Parliament would dispel the outdated belief that performers were unfit to handle important national issues.
I concur that the creative sector will benefit from this. It will inspire our people to enter politics and challenge the established quo. They shouldn't be afraid to do it. Although it's regrettable that people in our region of the world don't value creatives, I have no doubt that this will change in the future. Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, is a comedian and well-known Hollywood star. In the past, he served as California's governor. These few instances demonstrate that entertainers can be involved in politics and government, according to A Plus.
To represent the people of Gomoa Central in the Central Region, he received 14,277 votes, 2,640 more than incumbent MP Naana Eyiah Quansah of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). "I started thinking about running for Parliament six years ago, and I started preparing for that by going back to school," A Plus told Graphic Showbiz. "I returned to earn an LLB, a Master's, and a Bachelor's degree. I prepared myself with the necessary information, and I'm happy with the result today," he said.(See also: A Plus to creatives: You didn't put me in Parliament to fight for the industry, so I'm not going there.)
Actress Ebi Bright has fought a lengthy battle and won the Tema Central seat on her third try using the NDC ticket since 2016. When she made her first attempt to enter Parliament in 2012—not on the NDC ticket at the time—she told Graphic Showbiz that she was happy to have sparked her colleagues' interest in politics.
“Does this girl think politics is the Cantata she acts?” I recall one man asking. In this way, people are marginalized, and I am confident that my victory will inspire a lot of creatives. I have a good plan that works for the residents of Tema Central, and I plan to get over partisanship," she stated.
