VETERAN Kumawood actor Agya Koo is calling on the government to set up a national museum for Ghana's creative arts personalities, so their contributions are preserved and future generations understand the country's cultural heritage.
He said the museum should document the work and achievements of actors, musicians and other pioneers of the creative industry and could serve as both a place of learning and a tourist attraction.
Speaking to the Graphic Showbiz on Tuesday, November 3, the comic actor said Ghana risked losing important parts of its creative history because too little was being done to record and preserve the achievements of its entertainment legends.
"We are watching our entertainment legends die without preserving their legacies and that is very frustrating. I have been to museums in New York, Holland and other places and I believe Ghana can establish something similar to preserve the works and achievements of its creative personalities.
"Even in Japan, they have works of Bruce Lee and Jet Li and they even preserve their footprints. People pay to see these things, but in Ghana, we do not document the achievements of our creative legends. Instead, we wait for them to die before remembering their contributions and eventually, their memories fade," he said.
He urged the government, particularly the Office of the President and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, to consider the proposal and give it the necessary support.
"In Ghana, it appears you are not given any regard or your words hold little power if you are not a university graduate. I may not be formally educated but I have travelled widely and seen things that we can implement in our country," he said.
Beyond preserving the industry's history, Agya Koo also proposed a welfare arrangement to shield performers from financial difficulties, especially in old age.
He suggested that film producers set aside 20 per cent of the money meant for actors' payments and invest it in a welfare or insurance scheme to support actors when they fall ill or become too old to work.
"We know that some of our colleagues find themselves in difficult circumstances in their old age. It is not always because they mismanaged their lives. Sometimes, life simply happens and that is why we must put measures in place to support them.
"I would even consider engaging the President on the proposal to explore how it could be formalised and implemented," he said.
Reflecting on how the industry has changed, Agya Koo said the shift from traditional television and CDs to YouTube has opened doors for emerging filmmakers, but has also raised concerns about production quality.
While acknowledging the opportunities the platform gives young producers, he said the industry needed the experience and guidance of its veterans to raise standards, so that the gains of the digital era are not lost to poor quality.
As one of the prominent faces of Kumawood at its peak, he said the older generation had a duty to nurture young talent, share their experience and help rebuild the industry.
