Creative Arts Agency hosts dialogue on pensions for artists on November 2

The Creative Arts Agency, in collaboration with the National Film Authority and Copyright Ghana, is set to host a major stakeholder dialogue on November 2, 2026, aimed at establishing a dedicated pension and social security scheme for creative professionals. The event, titled 'My Art, My Ark! Dialogue,' will take place at the British Council in Accra. This initiative represents a concerted effort to address the long-standing issue of financial instability among artists, musicians, filmmakers, and other practitioners within Ghana’s creative economy. By initiating this discussion, the agencies aim to move beyond ad-hoc support for aging creatives toward a structured, institutionalized system of welfare. The dialogue focuses on creating a sustainable framework that acknowledges the unique employment structures of the creative sector. Unlike traditional formal sector jobs with regular monthly salaries, creative professionals often deal with irregular income patterns and project-based work. By bringing together government representatives, industry organizations, and key stakeholders, the organizers hope to design practical solutions that ensure actors, writers, and technical staff can access the same social safety nets available to other Ghanaian workers. This involves exploring contribution models that accommodate the fluctuating earnings typical of the industry. Ultimately, the 'My Art, My Ark!' initiative seeks to enhance the overall welfare and financial security of the nation's creative workforce. Organizers emphasize that a robust pension system is a critical component of a professionalized creative economy. By providing a reliable social security mechanism, the program aims to protect veterans in the industry from poverty and ensure that the next generation of Ghanaian talent can pursue their careers with greater long-term confidence. This move is expected to strengthen the creative sector's contribution to national development by ensuring its practitioners are well-supported throughout their professional lives and into retirement.