Stop Talking, Start Fixing: Socrate Safo Demands Action From Creative Ministry Leaders

Industry veteran calls for decisive leadership

Socrate Safo, a renowned filmmaker and arts advocate, has issued a forceful open letter to Ghana's Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts and other government appointees in the creative sector, urging them to stop rehashing old problems and start implementing real solutions.

In his strongly-worded message, Safo used an anecdote attributed to footballer Kevin-Prince Boateng about Italian legend Andrea Pirlo to illustrate his point. Pirlo told Boateng that great leaders anticipate needs without waiting to be told repeatedly. "If you're free, I'll have already seen you," Pirlo supposedly said. Safo applied this principle directly to Ghana's creative leadership: "Great leaders do not need to be reminded of the obvious. They see what others miss. They anticipate challenges before they become crises."

Long-standing challenges demand action, not speeches

Safo highlighted persistent industry problems that have dominated countless conferences, policy papers and media discussions for years—inadequate funding, weak copyright enforcement, piracy, poor infrastructure, limited market access, low investment and the absence of sustainable policies. Rather than hear these issues repeated, he said, the creative community expects their leaders to solve them.

"Your appointment was not to become the industry's loudest commentators. It was to become its most effective problem-solvers," Safo wrote. He stressed that the creative sector represents an untapped economic asset capable of generating employment, boosting tourism and strengthening cultural diplomacy if given proper policy support and strategic investment.

Safo ended his rallying cry with a call for leaders who "see, act and deliver," stating: "The creative industry has shouted long enough... Now, Ghana is waiting for leadership that sees, acts and delivers." His comments have resonated widely with industry practitioners hopeful that the newly appointed creative ministry team will bring long-awaited reforms and renewed investment.