Gov’t On Course In Improving The Creative Arts Sector

The President, Nana Akufo-Addo, has assured that his government would not give up on its mission towards improving the Creative Arts Sector.

According to him, while the construction of the performance theatre is underway in Kumasi, a host of others structures are being improved for the betterment of the Industry.

He gave the assurance while presenting the third State of the Nation Address at Parliament on Thursday.

“The Eastern Region Theatre has been completed, and work is currently ongoing towards the construction of the Kumasi theatre,” he said.

In the 2016 Manifesto, the New Patriotic Party, then in opposition, promised to pursue the construction of nine large seating theatres in nine regions.

“We will pursue the construction of modern large seating theatres in every regional capital except Accra, beginning with Takoradi, Tamale, and Kumasi, as well as setting up an additional Copyright Office in Tamale to cater for the northern sector in addition to the existing ones in Accra and Kumasi,” it stated.

In November 2018 renovation work at the Centre for National Culture in Koforidua started in earnest.

And earlier this year, the 1,500-seating capacity auditorium was officially commissioned by the Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts & Culture, Dr Ziblim.

Touching on the passage of the Creative Arts Bill, the President said the passage of the Bill will lead to the establishment of the Creative Arts Fund.

”We have worked to finalise the Creative Arts Bill, leading to the setting up of the Creative Arts Fund. For the first time, in 2018, Government provided support to the Creative Arts Council, and the Creative Arts Masterclass, to build capacity of Creative Arts practitioners, has also commenced,” he noted.

Speaking of achievements of his government in the Tourism Sector, the he disclosed that, the Ghana Tourism Authority recorded a significant growth of about 20% since the launch of its See Ghana, Eat Ghana, Wear Ghana and Feel Ghana campaign two years ago.

This, according to him, had placed Ghana on a very high stage across the world market and also helped promote unity among Ghanaians, as well as to stimulate innovation among local wear production.