The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China Bengbu International Technology and Economic Cooperation Limited (CBITEC), a technical conglomerate that specialises in international design, construction, and management of projects, for the construction of a modern theatre in Kumasi.
The MoU was signed in Kumasi on Saturday, September 5, 2020.
The sector Minister then, Mrs. Barbara Oteng-Gyasi, signed for the ministry, while Mr. Li Zhongchun, the business executive of CBITEC, signed for the company, with the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) for Kumasi, Mr. Osei Assibey Antwi, serving as a witness.
Fast forward to 2021, Mark Okraku Mantey, the incumbent Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts & Culture, revealed that the Kumasi theatre promised by the government will reach its full completion by the end of 2022.
Mr. Okraku Mantey disclosed this information when he was speaking on an Accra-based FM station.
He said “Government’s job for the creative industry is to create an enabling environment, give you the logistics that as individuals we cannot buy like a theatre. That is why the creative arts school in Kumasi right now has a theatre that is going to house close to 2000 people.”
“We asked for it when I was with you four years ago and the President has taken steps that we must start. By next year, pictures of Kumasi’s theatre will be out. By end of next year, the theatre will be complete,” he added.
But here we are almost closing the chapter of the year 2022, however, the promised Kumasi theatre by the NPP gov’t spearheaded by Akufo Addo is nowhere to be found in the Ashanti regional capital, Kumasi.
Reacting to this in the studios of Kumasi-based Nhyira FM, Ruthy believes Akufo Addo-led NPP administration has done absolutely nothing to push the creative arts sector in the region since coming to office.
Watch Ruthy’s submission via the video below:
