Accra: Veteran filmmaker and staunch NPP member Socrate Safo has opened up about the circumstances surrounding his removal as Director of the National Commission on Culture. He revealed he only found out he had been replaced when a stranger showed up at his office with an appointment letter.
According to Ghana Web, Safo recounted the incident on the 'Gentlemen and Gentlemen' podcast with Arnold Asamoah Baidoo. He described how he returned to his office after attending a program, only to be informed by the director for planning and monitoring that an elderly woman had arrived with a letter appointing her as the new director. When asked if he felt the New Patriotic Party (NPP) had treated him fairly, Safo replied, "To be straight, I'll say no. I wasn't treated fairly."
Despite the perceived mistreatment, Safo stated his continued loyalty to the party, expressing regret not over his abrupt dismissal or unpaid service, but over the unfinished business in the creative arts industry that he has dedicated his life to. He lamented not being given the opportunity to address the challenges of the industry.
Safo elaborated on his motivations for entering politics, citing years of frustrating meetings with ministers who, in his view, lacked understanding of the creative arts sector. He mentioned James Agyenim Boateng and Stan Dogbe as notable exceptions who genuinely engaged with industry practitioners, recounting their hands-on involvement on sets, which motivated his political involvement.
Safo viewed his appointment as a chance to effect meaningful change for Ghana's creative arts industry, a vision that did not come to fruition due to his unexpected dismissal.