Ghanaian media personality and creative entrepreneur Ruddy Kwakye has urged event organisers to provide accurate attendance figures, rather than inflating numbers to boost egos. He made the remarks at the inaugural Climate x Culture Summit in Accra on October 22. The summit, organised by CultureJoint, brought together stakeholders from the creative industries, climate sector, and government to discuss sustainable creative experiences for Africa. Kwakye emphasised the importance of reliable attendance figures for effective policy planning.
Kwakye warned that inaccurate data could undermine policy planning, particularly on climate change and waste management. He stressed that accurate data was essential to developing policies that could be effectively implemented across the events and creative industries. Reliable attendance figures, he said, could help event organisers determine the number of waste bins, toilets, and cleaning personnel required at venues. This would enable them to plan for waste collection, recycling, and disposal.
The Climate x Culture Summit, held under the theme “Designing Sustainable Creative Experiences for Africa,” was organised in partnership with the Office of the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability at the Presidency. The summit examined how culture and creativity can contribute to climate action and sustainable development. Kwakye’s contribution focused on the role of accurate data and practical waste management in reducing the environmental impact of Ghana’s events industry.
Kwakye also highlighted environmental initiatives undertaken by the Afro Nation team at Laboma Beach, where the festival has largely been held. The team undertook clean-up efforts to improve the condition of the beach and its surroundings, making the area more environmentally friendly for festivalgoers, residents, and fisherfolk. A net was installed beneath the bridge to trap rubbish and debris, preventing waste from reaching the ocean.
The intervention at Laboma Beach demonstrates how event organisers can take practical steps to manage waste and reduce pollution beyond the immediate event venue. Kwakye’s remarks highlighted the need for the creative industry to combine accurate data collection with practical environmental measures to make events more sustainable. This approach would enable event organisers to assess and mitigate the environmental impact of their events.
Inaccurate attendance figures could undermine planning efforts and make it difficult for regulators and industry stakeholders to assess the environmental footprint of events. Kwakye emphasised that exaggerating attendance numbers was “pure ego pleasing” and that reliable data was necessary for effective policy planning. He urged event organisers to prioritise accurate data collection to ensure sustainable event planning.
The discussion at the Climate x Culture Summit underscored the importance of collaboration between the creative industries, climate sector, and government to promote sustainable development. Key stakeholders are now expected to work together to develop and implement effective measures to reduce waste and limit the environmental impact of large gatherings. Accurate data collection and practical environmental measures will be crucial in achieving this goal.
Key points
- Ruddy Kwakye urges event organisers to provide accurate attendance figures.
- Accurate data is essential for effective policy planning on climate change and waste management.
- Practical environmental measures can help reduce the environmental impact of events.
