Vida Adutwumwaa
Media personality Vida Adutwumwaa has taken a swipe at the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, accusing her of inaction and lack of commitment to growing the creative arts sector.
Speaking on United Showbiz, Vida questioned the Minister’s commitment to addressing the immediate concerns of creatives who depend on state facilities for their activities.
According to her, despite repeated calls for the renovation of the National Theatre, the sector minister has shown no urgency in tackling the challenges.
“For many times we have raised concerns about the location of the National Theatre. It is said that its current location is prone to earthquake. I don’t know if they are waiting for the worst to happen before we take measures,” she said.
She added, “When it comes to proactiveness, she is not helping we the creatives and she does not appear likely to be helpful to the industry.”
Vida noted that for years creatives have been appealing for venues to host events, but the Minister appears unconcerned.
She has therefore called on President John Mahama to reshuffle Dzifa Gomashie from the Tourism Ministry.
Her comments come amid renewed discussions over the future of the National Theatre, following government’s announcement of plans to undertake a major renovation and modernisation of the facility.
Meanwhile, Dzifa Gomashie has announced that government has secured support from the People’s Republic of China to renovate and modernise the National Theatre.
According to her, the project is intended to restore the theatre’s infrastructure, improve its technical facilities and reposition it as a world-class centre for Ghanaian arts and culture.
Vida, however, maintains that the response from the Ministry is not empowering enough to ensure the immediate completion of the renovation.
BY Prince Fiifi Yorke