Ghanaian filmmaker and staunch New Patriotic Party (NPP) member, Socrate Safo, has expressed frustration over what he describes as the party’s lack of appreciation for creatives within its ranks.
Speaking with Halifax Ansah-Addo on Okay FM in Accra, Safo — a former Director for Creative Arts at the National Commission on Culture — said he envies how the National Democratic Congress (NDC) consistently recognises and elevates creatives and cultural figures.
“I jealous them. Let me confess. I jealous them. I feel that the NDC is respecting the mental fortitude of the creatives. They are listening and they have not stopped,” he stated.
“I look at my colleagues — the Rex Omars, the KODs, Abeiku Santanas. How many people didn’t we have in the NPP? What did they do for us? You go and they look at you in a condescending manner, thinking they are better than you. We had creatives who could do excellent jobs, but they were overlooked just because they claim we don’t have degrees.”
His comments came in reaction to President John Mahama’s recent appointment of actress Kalsoume Sinare as Ghana’s Ambassador to Spain — a move Safo praised, using it to highlight broader issues within his own party.
Safo, known for directing and producing numerous Ghanaian films and advocating for cultural development, said the NPP has often marginalised creatives, viewing them as less qualified due to a lack of formal academic credentials.
He added that during the NPP’s time in power, creatives were rarely given influential roles, unlike in the NDC, where such individuals are seen as valuable contributors to national development.
According to Safo, the NDC has shown a stronger commitment to integrating arts and culture into governance — a gesture he believes the NPP must emulate if it wants to fully harness the potential of the country’s creative talents.