Tourism Minister Calls for Completion of Abandoned Theatre Projects Across Ghana

Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts Minister Abla Dzifa Gomashie has called for the completion of abandoned theatre infrastructure projects across the country, including projects initiated under previous administrations.

The Minister made the call during the government’s Accountability Series when she was asked about the state of abandoned theatre buildings and infrastructure in the country.

Responding to the question, Ms Gomashie said her recommendation to Cabinet was for the government to prioritise the completion of theatre buildings that had been started but left unfinished over the years.

She noted that some of the projects dated as far back as the administration of former President Jerry John Rawlings, stressing the need for the government to find resources to complete the long-standing projects.

“My suggestion to Cabinet is that we finish all the, if we can, all the buildings that were started even from President Rawlings. Some are from that far back,” she said.

According to the Minister, the ability of government to complete such projects would depend largely on the availability of resources, urging Ghanaians to continue paying their taxes to support national development.

She said increased revenue generation would enable government to allocate more resources to sectors such as tourism, culture and the creative arts.

“We just have to keep trying to pay our taxes, make more money for Ghana, so that a lot more will be given to us,” she stated.

Ms Gomashie also disclosed that she had engaged the Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, over the needs of the tourism, culture and creative arts sector and funding priorities for 2027.

She said the Finance Minister had personally sat with her to examine the sector’s needs and what would be required to support its development.

The Minister said she was therefore confident that the sector’s concerns, including infrastructure needs, would receive consideration in the government’s planning for the 2027 financial year.

She explained that the discussions were aimed at identifying the sector’s priorities and determining what could realistically be funded.

“I’m assured by the Minister for Finance, who sat with me… Ato Forson also sat with me to look at the sector and what has to be done and what our needs are for 2027,” she said.

Ms Gomashie further assured stakeholders that she would return to provide an update and validate the commitments made regarding the sector’s infrastructure needs.

“I can assure you, I’ll come back here and give a validation to what I’ve just said,” she added.

The Minister said the completion of the abandoned theatre projects would form part of the discussions on the sector’s infrastructure needs and funding priorities for 2027.

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