‘You’re a fool’ – Bullgod attacks Socrate Safo
Socrate Safo, the filmmaker who also serves as the Director for Creative Arts at the National Commission on Culture, was called a fool by Lawrence Nana Asiamah Hanson, also known as Bullgod, for defending the Akufo-Addo government’s achievements in the arts and entertainment industry.
In the run-up to the 2020 elections, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), which received significant support from the creative community and thus won the presidential elections, made several promises. These promises included the completion of the Kumasi Theatre and the construction of new theatres in Takoradi and Tamale.
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Despite their election victory, these promises remain unfulfilled.
Mark Okraku-Mantey, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, broke ground in April 2023 on the construction of an ultra-modern open-air amphitheatre at Kumasi’s Centre for National Culture. This event came after the government pledged to construct five amphitheatres, two in Accra, one in Kumasi, one in Takoradi, and one in Tamale.
While the Kumasi amphitheatre was supposed to be finished by July 2023, it, like several others, remains unfinished.
Socrate Safo stated on September 30, 2023, during an appearance on United Showbiz hosted by MzGee and monitored by GhanaWeb, that the government was committed to keeping its promises. He provided video evidence of the structures’ foundations being laid with artisans on-site.
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Socrate Safo argued that the “NPP’s challenge is communication,” claiming that the party and government have accomplished much but have failed to publicise their accomplishments.
“We are working,” he said, “but we have kept the majority of the information from the public.” “Because we failed to publicise our accomplishments, some people are unaware of ongoing projects, and they become enraged.” People in the arts are upset because we have not shown them what we are doing for the industry, leading them to believe we have done nothing.
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“You are seeing something now, and as time goes on, we will take our time and show you evidence of projects we have completed across the country.” “We have done quite a few things,” Socrate Safo added.
He lauded the government’s ‘December in Ghana’ programme, claiming that it has turned into a source of income for creatives, which he claimed was not the case a decade ago.
“If nothing else, we know that Bullgod’s artist Vanilla, come December, tourists will throng the country based on a manifesto promise by the NPP.” The figures are unheard of. “December is in GH programmes,” he explained.
“We started with 94 events for the first edition; last year, we did 115; and this year, we have got over 260 programmes coming up in December.” Artists will be able to find work. Programmes like this require a visionary government.
“Unless you are a lazy manager, you will be playing shows in the country back-to-back,” Socrate Safo continued, “but knowing Bullgod, who is a good manager, Bullgod will make money because NPP has come up with something creative.”
The remarks were offensive to Bullgod, who reacted angrily, calling the staunch NPP member a fool.
“Socrate, you are a fool,” Bullgod raged, much to the surprise of the other panellists. “Do you realise why you are a fool?” The leader of the political party you represent has admitted defeat. And you are here to defend what? Chale!”
“The most serious problem we have in this country is that the NPP packaged lies for us to buy.”