Deputy Communications Minister Mohammed Adams Sukparu has urged MTN Ghana and other digital firms to invest in local creative production, saying public money alone will not be enough.
Sukparu, Deputy Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, made the call at the launch of MTN One TV in Accra. He said the government had provided GH¢20 million in seed funding for a creative arts fund but needed private partners to grow the sector. “The government cannot do it alone,” he said.
The appeal puts the spotlight on telecom operators, which control the networks and payment systems that now carry much of Africa’s entertainment. MTN One TV, a pan-African streaming service, combines live TV channels, local African series and films, and international programming, with mobile money payment options. MTN Group is rolling it out gradually across its 16 African markets and their 307.2 million subscribers. It is the company’s second attempt at streaming, nearly a decade after an earlier venture failed to gain traction, according to BusinessDay.
What the government has committed
The GH¢20 million comes from the 2026 Budget. Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson set aside GH¢40 million in seed money for the creative economy: GH¢20 million for a Creative Arts Fund covering music, fashion, food and other creative sectors, and GH¢20 million for a separate Film Development Fund.
Releases have lagged behind the budget figures. When the National Film Authority launched the Film Development Fund on 20 May, it said only GH¢5 million of that fund’s GH¢20 million had been paid. No disbursement figures have been published for the Creative Arts Fund.
Beyond money
Sukparu said Ghana had abundant creative talent but lacked the systems to help it grow, attract investment and compete abroad. He named affordable connectivity, digital skills and stronger intellectual property protection as priorities. He added that the industry should be prepared to use artificial intelligence without compromising creators’ rights.
He singled out MTN Ghana as having the networks, technology and platforms to support new productions and emerging talent. He also urged the company to work with government on mechanisms to finance the sector.
Sourced: newsghana
