At a recent high-level policy dialogue hosted by the Centre for Regional Cultural and Creative Arts (CeRCCA), prominent stakeholders in Ghana’s creative industry emphasized the urgent need for the establishment of a comprehensive pension and social security framework tailored to the unique needs of creative professionals.
Panelists—including artists, entertainment lawyers, policy analysts, and representatives of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT)—argued that despite the creative sector’s substantial contribution to Ghana’s GDP and youth employment, practitioners often face financial insecurity in retirement due to the absence of structured savings and benefits schemes.
“The time has come for Ghana to treat creatives as formal sector workers who deserve long-term financial security. Our talents fuel tourism, national identity, and economic output. It is only just that the system works for us too,” said one speaker.
The dialogue called for collaborative action between government agencies, private insurers, unions, and industry bodies to design inclusive, adaptable pension plans that reflect the irregular income patterns common in the arts and entertainment industry.
Legal experts at the forum also emphasized the need for legislative amendments or regulatory provisions that would incentivize contributions and protect the rights of artists—both emerging and established—throughout their professional lifecycle.
CeRCCA’s Executive Director noted:
“We must institutionalize sustainability in Ghana’s cultural economy. This dialogue is a first step towards policy formulation and eventual implementation.”
The policy paper from the dialogue will be submitted to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and relevant parliamentary committees for consideration in ongoing labor and pension reform discussions.#newsafro_
