Build Kumasi Theatre or Hold Dzifa Gomashie Accountable – Bnoskka Tells Mahama

Dr Benjamin Oduro Arhin, popularly known as Bnoskka, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to honour the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s manifesto commitment to commence plans for a second National Theatre in Kumasi, warning that the creative industry was not consulted before an alternative proposal was presented to Cabinet.

The Senior Lecturer at the Department of Music Education at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), expressed concern over a statement by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, suggesting that government should prioritise completing existing theatre and cultural infrastructure in the Ashanti Region instead of starting a new project.

In a press release dated September 19, 2026, Dr Arhin said the proposal had raised questions about the government’s commitment to its manifesto promise and the extent to which creative industry stakeholders had been involved in decisions affecting the sector.

Dr Arhin drew attention to the NDC’s 2024 manifesto, specifically Chapter 3, Section 3.3.2, titled Building a Thriving Creative Industry, on page 53, point 12.

According to him, the manifesto states:

“We will rehabilitate the National Theatre in Accra and commence plans to build a second National Theatre in Kumasi.”

He said the commitment was also reiterated by President Mahama on November 12, 2024, in Kumasi.

During the engagement, the President reportedly indicated that the proposal had already featured in the NDC’s 2020 manifesto and was repeated in the 2024 manifesto because, in his words, “Kumasi is the centre of Arts and Culture in this country.”

Dr Arhin further noted that the government’s commitment was reflected in the 2026 Budget Statement, which indicated that government would rehabilitate the National Theatre in Accra and commence site acquisition and design work for a second National Theatre in Kumasi.

He said these commitments had created expectations among creative industry stakeholders, particularly those in the Ashanti Region, who anticipate the establishment of a major national cultural facility in Kumasi.

The UEW lecturer’s concerns follow comments made by the Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts Minister during the Government Accountability Series on Monday, August 10, 2026.

At the event, the minister reportedly said she had toured theatre facilities and Centres for National Culture in the Ashanti Region and subsequently proposed that government focus on completing existing projects rather than beginning construction of a new theatre.

Her statement, as reproduced in Dr Arhin’s release, reads:

“I took a tour of Ashanti Region’s theatre and Centre for National Culture spaces, and I have suggested to Cabinet that instead of starting a new one, we focus on finishing what has been started and Cabinet is in approval of that suggestion.”

Dr Arhin said the minister’s proposal was concerning because, in his view, creative industry stakeholders in Kumasi and across the country had not been consulted before the recommendation was presented to Cabinet.

He argued that stakeholders should have been allowed to express their views on whether government should proceed with the construction of a new National Theatre in Kumasi, as promised in the manifesto, or concentrate on completing existing theatre and cultural infrastructure.

According to him, the minister’s decision should not be presented as representing the collective position of creative industry stakeholders when, he maintains, they were not consulted.

He stressed that the absence of consultation was a central issue in the disagreement over the proposed direction of the project.

Dr Arhin appealed directly to President Mahama not to accept the minister’s recommendation at the expense of the proposed new National Theatre in Kumasi.

He maintained that stakeholders had not been consulted and insisted that they did not support the minister’s reported proposal.

In his appeal, he urged the President to proceed with plans to build a new theatre in Kumasi in fulfilment of the NDC’s manifesto commitment.

He also invoked the legacy of former President Jerry John Rawlings, who oversaw the construction of the National Theatre in Accra.

Dr Arhin argued that building a second National Theatre in Kumasi would similarly establish a lasting legacy for President Mahama, particularly in the decentralisation of arts and culture.

He said the project would demonstrate a commitment to extending major cultural infrastructure beyond Accra and providing the Ashanti Region with a national facility dedicated to the creative arts.

The creative arts researcher and commentator described Kumasi as the cultural heartbeat of Ghana, pointing to the city’s contribution to the country’s artistic and cultural identity.

He cited Kumawood, Highlife music, Adowa and the craft industry as examples of the cultural traditions and creative activities associated with the Ashanti regional capital.

According to him, these contributions reinforce the importance of establishing a major national theatre in Kumasi.

He expressed hope that the President would consider the concerns raised by creative industry stakeholders and ensure that the manifesto commitment was fulfilled.

Dr Arhin concluded his statement by arguing that the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts should be held accountable by creative industry stakeholders if the manifesto promise to commence plans for a second National Theatre in Kumasi is not fulfilled.

He maintained that the President had made a commitment to the project and should proceed with it rather than abandon it in favour of the minister’s reported recommendation.

The lecturer reiterated his appeal for the government to honour its pledge, stressing the importance of stakeholder consultation and the need to consider the views of those working within the creative industry.

The statement was signed by Dr Benjamin Oduro Arhin, also known as Bnoskka, of the Department of Music Education at the University of Education, Winneba, who describes himself as a creative arts researcher and commentator.