Govt Assault On Minority Choir Amnesty Programme Discreet – Ablogo

The government has denied that it has turned the new Choral Programme into a ministry of its own. Chief of Staff Akosua Frema Opare‑Abofour told a press conference that the programme is not a full‑blown department but a modest choir that only walks out when invited, and that it is not run from a ministerial office. He emphasized that the initiative was set up by President Nana Addo Dankwa Makpayee Addo under a directive he issued, and that it operates with oversight from the Chief of Staff who provides updates to the President.

Speaker of Parliament Alban Kingson Bagbin added context by recalling that previous heads of state also used choirs as a diplomatic tool. He pointed out that his own administration can grant amnesty because it carries the imprint of earlier leaders who similarly used music to signal goodwill. According to him, the current choir serves a similar purpose and should be treated as a cultural gesture rather than an administrative takeover.

The administration has not announced any public concerts in the near term, but it has said that further visits will be organised when opportunities arise. The cultural office indicated that the choir plans to rehearse for future events and may eventually perform at regional festivals, though exact dates have not been fixed. Observers suggest the initiative is meant to showcase Ghanaian talent abroad without creating a separate government department.

Bagbin is expected to address the public again once his constitutional term ends, and at that time will reveal how the current choir relates to the long‑standing practice of heads of state granting amnesties.