Ghanaian politician and creative entrepreneur Baba Sadiq is calling for the Creative Arts Agency to take a more active and authoritative role in collecting and publishing credible data for the country’s creative industry.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z with host Kwame Dadzie, Baba Sadiq emphasized that reliable data is essential for shaping effective policies and informing corporate decision-making in the creative ecosystem.
His comments followed a discussion about the historic turnout at Shatta Wale’s ShattaFest 2025, which pulled an estimated 400,000 fans to the Black Star Square on October 18, 2025—one of the largest event turnouts in Ghana’s entertainment history.
Creative Arts Agency Must Step Up, Sadiq Says
When asked whether the Creative Arts Agency should be responsible for gathering and verifying attendance figures for major events—including Shatta Wale’s annual birthday concerts—Baba Sadiq did not hesitate.
“It’s inherent in their mandate to lead research and advocacy for the industry, so I don’t know what they are doing. Once it’s inherent in their mandate, they are supposed to,”
— Baba Sadiq
He noted that accurate data is a key pillar of any thriving creative economy, serving as the foundation for investment decisions, policy direction, international partnerships, and sector growth.
Background: The Role of the Creative Arts Agency
Established in 2021, the Creative Arts Agency was mandated to:
- Develop and promote Ghana’s creative sector
- Lead policy research and data collection
- Support capacity building among industry practitioners
- Advocate for growth and innovation
- Coordinate data-driven initiatives that enhance global competitiveness
Despite this comprehensive mandate, Baba Sadiq believes the Agency needs to take stronger leadership in producing credible, standardized data—especially as Ghana’s creative industry continues to expand rapidly.
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