Gomashie Unveils Plan For Second National Theatre
ACCRA — The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has announced government’s intention to establish a second National Theatre in Kumasi, a move positioned to decentralize Ghana’s cultural infrastructure and broaden access to the performing arts in the Ashanti Region.
Speaking at the Accountability Series on Monday, 10th August, 2026, the Minister disclosed that while the long-term vision includes a new flagship facility, the immediate priority is to complete an existing theatre and cultural centre project already underway in the region. She indicated that after touring facilities in Ashanti, she proposed to Cabinet that resources be channeled toward finishing the unfinished asset rather than initiating another greenfield construction.
Cabinet has approved the proposal, clearing the path for work on the current facility to be expedited. The Minister emphasized that the approach reflects fiscal discipline and a commitment to maximizing value from prior investments before committing to additional capital outlays. She added that should fiscal space permit in future, a wholly new theatre could then be considered.
The plan also encompasses the rehabilitation of the existing National Theatre in Accra, signaling a dual strategy of renewal and expansion. Cultural policy experts note that situating major performance infrastructure outside the capital could stimulate regional creative economies, provide platforms for local troupes, and reduce the concentration of cultural production in Accra.
“This is about equity in cultural access,” a theatre administrator said. “Kumasi has the audience, the talent, and the heritage. What it needs now are the venues to match.”
The announcement aligns with broader government efforts to strengthen the tourism, culture and creative arts sectors through targeted infrastructure. By prioritizing completion over new starts, authorities aim to avoid the cycle of abandoned projects while laying groundwork for a more geographically distributed arts ecosystem. The successful delivery of the Ashanti facility will be seen as a test of that intent.
Source: Citinewsroom
Author: Korkor Anumu
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