Culture
“You’re Supposed to Be Creating Jobs”: Ghana’s Ministry of Creative Arts Under Fire for Using AI Instead of Real Creatives For New Ad
The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts is facing intense backlash after releasing an AI-generated promotional video for a campus tourism office launch—the third time in less than a month the ministry has been dragged on social media for using artificial intelligence instead of engaging real human creatives.
The controversy erupted on March 3, 2026, when the Ghana Tourism Marketplace Twitter account posted a video promoting the launch of the Ghana Tourism Development Company’s new campus tourism office at the University of Ghana, Legon.
The video featured two AI-generated characters discussing the new office with stilted dialogue and uncanny valley visuals that immediately drew public criticism.
But for many Ghanaians, the video wasn’t just aesthetically off-putting—it represented a fundamental betrayal of the ministry’s core mandate.
‘Creative Arts’ in Name Only?
“If you are the Ministry of Creative Arts, you need to be very creative. You need to set the standard,” one social media user posted in response to the video. “And if your standard is not there, then it’s some way.”
The criticism strikes at the heart of an uncomfortable contradiction: a ministry with “creative arts” in its official title appears to be bypassing living, breathing Ghanaian creatives in favor of algorithm-generated content.
“Someone said there are tens of thousands of real students on campus and you still chose AI generated people for a tourism campaign that should be highlighting authenticity,” a blogger noted, quoting online reactions. “What are we doing here?”
The University of Ghana, where the campus tourism office was launched, houses departments in Theater Arts, Creative Arts, and related fields—students who could have been paid for their work.
“It’s disappointing that the Ghana Tourism account is using AI for adverts when we have talented students studying theater arts who could handle this work,” another user wrote. “How much would it really cost to engage young creatives and tech students?”
A Pattern of Controversy
This is not the ministry’s first AI-related misstep. Just weeks earlier, on February 10, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts faced similar backlash over an AI-generated poster for a special recognition ceremony honoring Hamamat, following her “shea butter ambassador” event with social media personality IShowSpeed.
“Everybody look at the flyer and say that ‘ah, is this a joke or what?'” the Ghanaian blogger recounted. “This one wasn’t going well at all.”
The flyer, shared by Ghana Tourism Authority Deputy CEO Abeiku Aggrey Santana among others, appeared official but bore the hallmarks of AI-generated imagery—a shortcut that critics say undermines the very industries the ministry exists to support.
A February 20 flyer for the campus tourism office launch escaped similar criticism—but the March 3 video brought renewed scrutiny.
The Job Creation Question
Beyond the aesthetic concerns, critics point to the economic implications. A traditional video production would employ multiple Ghanaians: actors, a sound technician, videographer, video editor, makeup artist, and costume designers.
“Imagine the number of people who could have gotten something to eat from this,” the entertainment blogger observed. “AI has cleared all these people. It’s just one person sitting behind the computer entering prompts.”
For a ministry tasked with nurturing Ghana’s creative economy, the choice to use AI-generated content sends a troubling message about its commitment to the very industries it oversees.
“What’s the essence of paying the tourism tax and levy if you are going to use prompts for arts?” one user demanded. “So much for government trying to invest in the creative arts sector.”
Students Show the Way
Adding to the sting of the controversy, social media users were quick to highlight examples of student work that far surpassed the ministry’s AI-generated effort.
“Look at what students from the same school did for their project work and compare it to the rubbish you people have done,” one comment read, sharing a video created by University of Ghana students as part of their academic work.
The comparison underscored what many see as a missed opportunity: the ministry could have commissioned students, providing both quality content and valuable experience—and payment—to young Ghanaians entering the creative field.
A Dissenting View
Not everyone agrees the criticism is fair. One social media user defended the use of AI, suggesting detractors haven’t accepted technological reality.
“The fact that people are complaining about the use of AI and not real human beings suggests that people have still not fully understood the times we live in,” the user posted. “This is it, man. This is it. People will lose jobs, opportunities, etc. to AI and its advanced versions. Live with it.”
When They Get It Right
To be fair, the ministry has demonstrated it can produce quality work. Past campaigns—including Fugu Wednesday artwork, Heritage Month launch visuals, and Love and Coco Month promotions—have received positive feedback.
“It’s not like they always doing bad things,” the blogger acknowledged. “If you go to their Facebook page, you will see a lot of good stuff over there.”
But the repeated controversies—approximately one per month, critics note—suggest a systemic issue rather than isolated missteps.
Official Silence
As of this writing, the Ghana Tourism Authority has not deleted the controversial video nor issued a statement addressing the backlash. The video remains live on the Ghana Tourism Marketplace Twitter account, posted on the day of the campus office launch.
“Some people are insulting them. Some people are expressing their disappointment in a very demure way,” the blogger observed. “What about you? What do you think about it?”
For an industry watching technology transform creative work at unprecedented speed, the question is more than rhetorical. In a ministry charged with both promoting tourism and nurturing Ghana’s creative sector, every choice sends a signal about whose work—and which workers—truly matter.
The answer, for now, remains as unclear as the line between AI-generated characters and the real Ghanaians they’ve replaced.
Water splashes against an imaginary wall as people gather to witness one of the most powerful stories in Ewe history.
In Ve-Deme, in Ghana’s Volta Region, the Velukusi Festival brings an ancestral struggle for freedom into the present, transforming a story of oppression, courage and escape into a living act of remembrance.
Celebrated during the first week of October, Velukusi commemorates the traditional account of the Ewes’ escape from the cruel rule of King Aghorkoli in Togo. According to the story passed down through generations, the Ewes were held behind a formidable wall.
Determined to break free, they repeatedly poured water onto a section of the structure until it weakened and collapsed.
Their escape did not end with the fallen wall. To conceal their direction of travel, they walked backwards, leaving misleading footprints for those who might pursue them. This extraordinary detail has become a defining feature of the festival’s historical re-enactment.
Bringing Ancestral Courage to Life
During Velukusi, the community revisits the escape through a dramatic performance that allows younger generations and visitors to connect with the experience of their forebears.
The re-enactment gives physical expression to a story that speaks of collective determination, ingenuity and the enduring human desire for freedom.
The festival reaches its climax with a colourful display of traditional cloths and beads, followed by a grand durbar of chiefs.
Traditional regalia, customary leadership and communal gatherings place Ewe identity at the centre of the celebration.
A Living Heritage
For the people of Ve-Deme, Velukusi is more than a historical commemoration. It strengthens community bonds and keeps ancestral memory alive at a time when younger generations are increasingly exposed to global influences.
For visitors exploring Ghana, the festival offers an opportunity to encounter the Volta Region’s heritage through storytelling, ceremony and traditional craftsmanship.
Velukusi reminds us that freedom is worth remembering—and that experiencing the traditions of Ve-Deme is a meaningful way to understand the resilience of the Ewe people.
Reels & Social Media Highlights
Ghana’s Timeline Erupts: Showboy’s Crude Plea, Asantewaa’s Silence, and a Nation Divided
On Wednesday, 14th October 2026, Ghana’s social media didn’t just trend — it combusted. At the center of the firestorm: Showboy, a deported ex-convict and self-styled provocateur, posting a video begging TikTok star Asantewaa to sleep with him because “everyone has chopped her except me.”
The phrase — crude street slang for sex — detonated across Facebook, X, and TikTok, splitting users between outrage, disgust, and reluctant laughter.
The Asantewaa saga had been simmering for weeks. First, rapper AMG Armani claimed a one-night stand and a pregnancy.
@notorioustrend1 Showboy Goes Hard On Asantewaa For Exp0sing Some Secret In Her Marriage On TikTok Live #ghanabloggers #ghanatiktok🇬🇭 #asantewaaaaa #showboy #notorioustrend ♬ original sound – Notorious🥷 Trend📸
Then Asantewaa herself explained she left her husband over sickle cell genotype compatibility, insisting she wasn’t with Armani until after the split. Showboy’s video poured petrol on the embers.
But the timeline wasn’t only burning with celebrity gossip. In Obuasi, the GES interdicted a headmaster accused of sexual misconduct after students rioted and vandalized school property.
The story — girls alleging assault inside the headmaster’s bungalow, a menstruation claim used as pretext, a school in ruins — resonated because it echoed a painful national truth: institutions meant to protect children often fail them.
Meanwhile, in Agona Nkwanta, a viral video of a man assaulting his wife led to a three-month jail sentence on the very same day, a rare moment of accountability that many users celebrated, even as they questioned why it took a viral clip for justice to move.
What made October 14th distinctly Ghanaian was the collision of these stories.
A culture wrestling publicly with how women are treated — by men like Showboy who see clout in disrespect, by authority figures who abuse trust — while simultaneously turning tragedy into meme fodder, joke captions, duet videos.
As the festive season winds down, Accra has one more reason to stay awake. Live in Ghana – MaddFest arrives at Alora Beach Resort on January 3, 2027, promising six hours of nightlife and celebration for partygoers eager to keep Ghana’s festive spirit alive.
Organised by December in Ghana, an event organiser with experience hosting entertainment events, MaddFest forms part of the social energy surrounding Ghana’s popular festive season, when music, nightlife and gatherings draw locals and international visitors together.
A Night Out by the Beach
Scheduled for Sunday, January 3, from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., the event offers an opportunity to experience Accra after dark in a beach resort setting.
While specific performers, food offerings and activities have not yet been detailed, the event’s late-night format promises an extended opportunity for guests to socialise and enjoy the city’s entertainment scene.
Ghana’s December festivities have grown into a major attraction for the diaspora and international travellers, with concerts, parties and cultural gatherings creating opportunities to reconnect with home and discover contemporary Ghanaian music and lifestyle.
Events such as MaddFest contribute to this atmosphere, where entertainment becomes a meeting point for different generations and cultures.
Why MaddFest Deserves a Place on Your Calendar
For visitors, MaddFest offers a chance to experience Accra’s nightlife beyond daytime sightseeing.
Ghanaians returning from abroad may also find it an opportunity to reconnect with friends and enjoy the country’s lively entertainment culture.
The event is not presented as a traditional cultural festival, but its social setting reflects the role music, dancing and shared celebrations play in Ghanaian life.
With Alora Beach Resort providing the setting, guests can plan a night out that extends into the early hours of Monday morning.
Whether you are visiting Ghana for the festive season or simply looking for another reason to enjoy Accra, Live in Ghana – MaddFest offers a date worth considering. Check the official event listing for ticket details and announcements before making plans.
-
Ghana News2 days agoOBITUARY: Gamal Gorkeh Nkrumah, Son of Ghana’s Founding President, Dies in Cairo
-
Festivals & Events2 days agoMaddFest 2027: Welcome the New Year with a Night of Celebration in Accra
-
Global Update2 days agoWave of Student Killings at Mexico Universities Raises Safety Concerns
-
Ghana News2 days agoMahama to Churches: The Real Sermon Is Written After the Closing Prayer
-
Reels & Social Media Highlights2 days agoGhana’s Timeline Erupts: Showboy’s Crude Plea, Asantewaa’s Silence, and a Nation Divided
-
Festivals & Events1 day agoVelukusi Festival: Re-enacting the Ewe Escape to Freedom in Ve-Deme
-
Taste GH1 day agoSimple, Nourishing and Rooted in Tradition: Discover Ghana’s Kapala
-
Health & Wellness2 days agoThe Scale Can Lie: Why Lifting Weights May Help You Lose More Fat