Mark Okraku-Mantey, the Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, has urged artists to consider the NPP government’s plan superior to their own, even if they do not finish the amphitheater or theatres.
Speaking on Thursday, November 28, 2024, on Y FM-Kumasi, 102.5Mhz, he revealed that they are back on site, that on the road to the Centre for National Culture, one would witness workers working tirelessly to make the project a reality, and that the government still has good intentions.
“I tell people that it is good to have a target, and make attempts to meet your target than not to have target(s) at all. Those who say that we’ve failed the creative industry because we didn’t build the amphitheater, we’re still better than the option because we’ve shown good faith”, the Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture opined.
He likened that situation at hand to that of a court case where someone reports another person who owes him. If the court realizes the one owing has shown good faith, by making inroads to pay some of the debt, the court gives the one owing time to pay up, due to the good faith he/ she has shown.
“I think President Akufo-Addo and his team have shown good faith, that we promised theatres, and as at now, in the history of Ghana, we’ve the highest number of theatres, if we complete them, ever in Ghana, namely:
– Creatives Arts School in Kwadaso, having about 2000 seater capacity
– Amphitheatre in the Creative Arts School at Kwadaso
– Amphitheatre at Centre for National Culture
– Accra Museums
– Amphitheatre at Takoradi
– About to start one in Tamale
– We’re going to put up an Amphitheatre in the Eastern region
– And then the mammoth at Trade Fair, that will have a 20,000 people, the biggest in West Africa, eight (8) event centers by President Akufo-Addo”, Mark Okraku-Mantey mentioned.
He stated that, “Maybe, yes, we could have done more, but if you compare us to the people who claim that we promised and we didn’t do it, we’re far better.”
He shared good news on the funding for the amphitheaters, disclosing that the funding is in, has been secured.
