The Chairman and World President of the International Advertising Association (IAA), Joel Nettey, has called for the establishment of the Brand Ghana office by an ACT of Parliament, to ensure that it receives dedicated funding.
He says this will enable the country to have a dedicated outfit projecting Ghana to the world and attracting the needed Foreign Direct Investments.
The first Brand Ghana office was established under former President John Attah Mills, but after years of inactivity, the office was replaced under the current administration by a committee made up of the Ghana Tourism Authority, and the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, among others, to carry out the work of the now defunct outfit.
During a courtesy call on President Akufo-Addo by leadership of the advertising industry in Ghana, Mr. Joel Nettey said the potential benefits from a well curated brand for Ghana, cannot be realized if a permanent Brand Ghana office is not established.
“It takes concerted effort to build an admired national brand that attracts investments. Campaigns like Truly Asia, Incredible India and the South African campaign do not just happen. There is a method to the madness. I propose for your consideration Mr. President that, just as President Kufuor set up EDIF by an Act of Parliament, the same should be done for the Brand Ghana office with clear funding streams and direction, then the value that Ghana will generate from the sustained Brand Ghana office will live for generations unborn.”
Akufo-Addo urged to facilitate passage of Advertising Council Bill
The Advertisers Association of Ghana (AAG), also asked President Akufo-Addo to intervene in ensuring the passage of the Advertising Council Bill.
The Bill, if approved, will establish the Advertising Council of Ghana, as the official government body charged with the duty of regulating advertising, registering practitioners in the industry and licensing advertising companies.
But the Association says years after it was laid before Parliament, the Bill is yet to be passed into law.
Executive Secretary of AAG, Francis Dadzie, says the long delay is not helping the industry.
“On the matter of the Advertising Bill, we have been at it since 2010 trying to get regulation into our industry because all over the world, every country has an Advertising Council that regulates the standards and practice of advertising, and it looks like our neighbours, Nigeria and Togo all have it, but Ghana has been lacking.”
“…So as an Association, we have been trying to promote this bill through the Ministry of Trade. We have been at it for some time, but haven’t managed to get it passed. We hope that next year we will be able to achieve the bill’s passage with the Ministry of Trade,” he added.
