Chief Executive of Maestro Africa Group, Francis Doku, has urged policymakers to design a tailored tax regime for the creative industry to safeguard its growth and sustainability.
Speaking at the 7th edition of Joy Prime’s Showbiz Roundtable on the theme “Taxation and the Future of Ghana’s Creative and Digital Economy”, Mr. Doku argued that the one-size-fits-all approach to taxation is stifling the sector.
According to him, industries such as food processing zones and other specialised areas often enjoy tax breaks, waivers, and even tax holidays. He believes a similar framework should be extended to the creative economy, which employs thousands of Ghanaians through its extensive value chain.
“If someone stages a production at the National Theatre, the number of people engaged is massive — from actors, dancers, and AV providers to costumers and stagehands. Cutting off such opportunities with heavy taxes means cutting off livelihoods for many more families,” he explained.
“There must be a way to properly have specialised taxes for some sectors, and I think the creative sectors,” he added.
Mr. Doku stressed that the creative sector should be nurtured with policies that encourage growth, rather than being burdened with rigid tax demands that make it difficult for new entrants and businesses to survive.
He therefore called on Parliament, beyond the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), to review current laws and create a specialised tax regime that recognises the peculiar challenges of the creative economy while tapping into its vast potential to contribute to national revenue.
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