Samuel Nii Tackie wins COVID-19 song contest in Ghana

Established in 1990, the NCC is a body under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture mandated with implementing Ghana’s cultural policy. Tackie beat 14 other finalists selected from more than 100 entries. He was presented with a cash prize of 10 000 Ghanaian cedi ($ 1 700) and a certificate. The other finalists also took home cash prizes and certificates. 

“I am the winner of the COVID-19 song,” Tackie posted on social media on Tuesday. “Thanks very much, National Commission on Culture for this award.”

The musician said he composed the song he had entered the competition with to boost the government’s efforts to curb the pandemic. He also implored President Nana Akufo-Addo and his government to increase support for the creative arts. 

NCC executive director Janet Edna Nyame said the commission had received financial support from the COVID-19 National Trust Fund for the competition and related programmes. She said the funds were disbursed to the commission’s regional offices, particularly to those in areas with high COVID-19 cases. The money was also meant to be used for educational campaigns through creative formats like music, dance, drama and poetry.

Filmmaker Socrate Safo, who is the NCC’s director of creative arts, congratulated the contestants for their impressive submissions. He said the NCC would promote the songs of all 15 finalists and assist with funding their accompanying music videos. 

Meanwhile, Ghana has recorded a reduction in active COVID-19 cases from 4 000 in March to about 1 300, with daily infection rates dropping from 400 to 100, a feat Akufo-Addo has attributed largely to the country’s ongoing vaccination drive.

During his 25th address on the measures employed against the COVID-19 pandemic on Sunday, he said his government had engaged various stakeholders towards the reopening of theatres and cinemas.

This comes after public functions such as concerts, theatrical performances, weddings and parties were banned in January following a December spike in COVID-19 cases.

“In the coming weeks, the Ghana Health Service and the Ghana Tourism Authority will be announcing these protocols and mandatory modalities, and work with the operators on a set of directives that will ensure the health and safety of all patrons and staff in all the facilities involved,” Akufo-Addo said.