The Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Arts, Dr Ziblim Barri Iddi in a recent interview said that the promise by the New Patriotic Party to build theaters in all nine (9) regions except the capital city of the country during the 2016 general election campaign was misconstrued by several Ghanaians.
He further indicated the manifesto meant to upgrade these Art Centres to modern standards for cultural, entertainment purposes and also build new ones in regions that do not have those facilities.
According to him, government officials from the ministry visited the abandoned Koforidua Cultural Center and took a thorough survey of the property .
Dr. Iddi added that the renovation works at the Koforidua Cultural Center was almost completed because the auditorium at the cultural centre will be used for the National Festival of Arts and Culture in November, 2018.
Following his statement that the Koforidua Cultural Center was 60% complete, some concerned journalists paid an unannounced visit to the center to find out about the renovation and commend Government for such initiative.
But, touring the abandoned building, they realized that no work has commenced as the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture made the public believed.
Photos of the current state of the dilapidated cultural center were taken by the journalists to prove that nothing has been done.
The Koforidua Cultural Center building was first built in 1964 by Kwame Nkrumah and during the erstwhile President John Kuffour administration between 2001/2009 renovation works were started to house offices and an auditorium with a 1,000 estimated sitting capacity when completed but abandoned ever since.
Several stakeholders in the Entertainment industry have shared their candid opinions about the change of plan by the New Patriotic Party to build theaters in all nine (9) regions except the capital city of the country during the 2016 general election campaign.
They all share same views that the ruling NPP Government has disappointed the creative arts industry regarding the mouth watery promises to give a facelift to the arts industry.
The Photos below show the current state of the Koforidua Cultural Center.
Photo Credit (Asiwome Tei-Mati)
