Simply having another large facility to host events is the only reason I support building the National Cathedral. It is evident to those of us who are engaged in the arts that the nation's potential to host significant events is somewhat inadequate. Have you ever questioned why a national celebration like the independence parade took place in a stadium where Ghana's Black Stars were almost sent to Benin to play a key FIFA World Cup qualifier against Nigeria's Super Eagles? After the 65th Independence Anniversary, which should have been hosted in a specially created park rather than a stadium, the pitch at the Cape Coast Stadium became depleted.
Sports stadiums come to the rescue for large events, which have consistently drawn tourists over the past years since the start of the Year of Return, despite recent events like the Afrochella and the Afro Nation bullying other equally-popular events over locations.
The National Cathedral can accommodate more than 5,000 people.
To relieve the demand on other venues like the Fantasy Dome, Grand Arena, and the National Theatre, I believe that the National Cathedral will particularly aid in attracting gospel events.
The attitude of the facility administrators is a concerning aspect of these designated locations for entertainment, music, and art events. The pockets of coup d'etats that occurred in Ghana from the late 1960s to the 1980s greatly harmed the theater industry. In actuality, Ghana had been under military administration for more than ten years until returning to democratic governance in 1993. Theater and the arts were put out of business by this form of administration during the ten years of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) dictatorship. However, after democracy was restored, efforts were undertaken to resurrect theater in order to promote the nation's arts and culture. The National Theatre gained audiences with plays like PANAFEST, KIDAFEST, Concert Party, and others as the arts gradually rose to prominence.
READ ALSO: TV3's Mothers' Day celebration featured a mother and daughter reconnecting.
The rise in patronage for the arts and entertainment at least gave theatre arts students hope for the future of their professions. I recall moving from the English Department, which was located on a hill between Commonwealth Hall, Volta Hall, and Legon Hall, all the way down to the Theatre Arts Department during my Level 100 days at the University of Ghana, Legon. I adored listening to lectures from the venerable Professor Martin Owusu, whose identical twin brother once managed to fool everyone in the class, despite everyone knowing that the latter was not our favorite lecturer. In those days, I had to study about "proscenium stages," "amphitheatres," one of which was unexpectedly located behind Commonwealth Hall, "thrust stages," etc. Due to the distance with the English Department, I had to break ways with Theatre Arts.
Ghanaians have recently developed a passion for stagecraft. This has been greatly boosted by people like James Ebo Whyte, also known as Uncle Ebo, Latif Abubakari, and my close buddy Kobina Ansah, who I listen to on the radio every Monday and Thursday morning. Uncle Ebo Whyte may have the knowledge from his years of experience, but Latif and Kobina Ansah, also known as "The Scribe," are performing a Yeoman's work. The Scribe's twice-yearly productions at the National Theatre have revitalized theater in Ghana in addition to drawing large crowds of spectators. It makes sense that my family constantly asks me when the upcoming show is due. I persuaded several grown adults to watch one of his plays, and ever since, they have been requesting a live stream to watch as they go about their daily lives in the UK.
READ ALSO: Media General plans to use the "Oseikrom Invasion" to annex Ashanti Region.
The National Theatre presented the play "Once Upon A Riddle."
While attending the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, I was eager to return home in time to witness the much-discussed "Once Upon A Riddle." On Saturday, December 10, 2022, I made the decision to watch the show online instead of flying back in time like I had originally intended. Sadly, the first performance was ruined by well over two hours of darkness. According to what I've heard, the facility's managers were unable to be located and lacked a backup plant to quickly stabilize the situation. Oh, how embarrassing! Any event organizer would have literally died from such an error, which is not their fault! How can a spectacle that has been advertised for months just literally go off? Thank God the lights returned for the remainder of the first performance, and the second show was completed as well.
I'm back in town, and as part of my annual New Year's routine, I checked in on all of my pals, including Mr. Ansah, to see if they had issued an apology for the incident. I was informed that the management had not apologized either public or privately, much to my astonishment. The Scribe is left on his own to handle damage management. Kobina Ansah's career as one of Ghana's top writers would be falling apart if not for the love of him and what he is doing for mother Ghana in the theater and arts.
author of plays Kobina Ansah
I appeal to the Executive Director of the National Theatre of Ghana—whose board chairman I knew from my time as a young sports presenter on TV Africa—to take the appropriate action and not only apologize to The Scribe but also put in place safeguards to prevent "killing" Ghanaians' efforts to create stage plays.
ALSO READ: Lighting up extinguished candles
A public apology is the least you can do for the young playwright, who has a lot on the line!
Editor-in-Chief for 3news.com, the author is.
DISCLAIMER
His opinions are his own and do not speak for Media General as a whole.
WhatsAppFacebook
Dr. Ben KD Asante was named CEO of the Year in the Public Sector in the previous article
The Oliveyard Church commissions a new church structure
MORE PUBLICATIONS BY THE AUTHOR
A/R: Suspended Opoku-Mensah must issue a formal apology, according to GRNMA.
Owusu Bempah is "shocked" by the Chief Imam's response.
The BoG has set the first MPC meetings for January 24, 2023.
Abu Sakara makes the case for Ghana's "debt forgiveness."
Appiatse: The first stage of the reconstruction must be finished by June 5 - Engineers
A/R NDC issues a warning to Duffuor about the distribution of Ahotor products
KMA boss requests assistance from everyone to build Kumasi
Elsie Appau has been chosen as the new WEF Ghana President.
Elsie Appau has been chosen as the new WEF Ghana President.
The Oliveyard Church orders a brand-new church structure
Dr. Ben KD Asante has been named the Public Sector CEO of the Year.
Pure Akan, Ria Boss, Asi Renie, Worlasi, Dark Suburb, and more will light up the inaugural Land of Spirits Festival.
Latest Posts
GRNMA demands an official apology from Opoku-Mensah Owusu Bempah, who has been suspended, after being "shocked" by the response of the Chief Imam. Hearts of Oak coach Slavko Matic travels to Serbia for the holidays.
The BoG has set the first MPC meetings for January 24, 2023.
Harrison Afful, a defender, is given a scouting position at an American team
GFA obtains possession of the Ghanaman Soccer Center of Excellence's properties.
Post a Comment