The Ghana Police Service has assured all stakeholders in the creative arts industry of their continuous support in the line of duty.

According to them, they have acknowledged and appreciated the crucial role the industry plays in the socio-economic development of Ghana, and for that reason, they would strengthen the ties for close collaboration between the two groups.

This was made known when the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr. George Akuffo Dampare met creative arts players on Wednesday at the Police Headquarters in Accra.

At the open forum, some participants raised issues of piracy and copyright as factors denying them returns from their investments.

For this reason, the chairman of the Audio Visual Society of Ghana (ARSOG) Mr.Kofi Owusu Ohemeng urged for the need for the police to be abreast of copyright issues to aid the clamping down on offenders.

President of Film Producers Association of Ghana (FIPAG), Mr.James Aboagye, on his part said getting police accoutrements and other props for acting, and approval of some films scripts involving the Ghana Police Service had become difficult.

Others who also spoke called on the police to sensitise their men at various checkpoints to handle people with respect and dignity when interrogating them.

At the end of the deliberations,Dr. Akuffo Dampare emphatically said the police did not take delight in causing creative industry players pain, but the motivation for enforcing law and order was to keep the country in good shape for future generations 

He noted that the police would continue to put right measures in place to regain all the trust but in the quest to do so they would automatically step on some toes for the good for the country.

IGP added that using police accoutrements and other props for films had existed but “it seems to have broken down per the contributions from stakeholders, however, the police would quickly look at the situation and resolve the lapses.”

Going forward, he said the service would be engaging various groups and organising workshops to educate people of some of the issues raised.

Dr.George Akuffo Dampare further noted that they have copiously documented every contribution made at the forum, and would take them one item at a time to address the concerns raised.

Some of the celebrities at the meeting included, Van Vicker, KiDi, Kuami Eugene,Abeiku Santana, Shatta Wale, Gloria Sarfo, Afia Schwarznegger, Fred Amugi,DBlack, Sefa,Dada KD, Kaakyire Kwame Appiah,Appiatus, Tagoe Sisters, Mercy Asiedu, Rex Omar, Bessa Simons, Samini, Daddy Bosco, KKD, KOD, OB Amponsah, Lekzy DeComic, and Jacinta among others.

By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme