Work resumes on Sekondi Amphitheatre after 35-year delay

WORKS on the Sekondi amphitheatre of the Centre for National Culture has begun after being stalled for 35 years.

The project which started in 1988 faced a lot of challenges and was abandoned. 

However about three months ago, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts initiated an action to revive the project which is now estimated to cost  GHc45 million

The project consist of a 2000-seater auditorium, a craft village, a two-storey administration block, hostel among others.

Inspecting progress of work on the project in Sekondi on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, the Minister of Tourism Culture and Creative Arts.

Mr Andrew Agyapa Mercer, said the Centre Tender Review Committee conducted integrity test on the facility before it was awarded on contract.

He said a number of amphitheatres would be constructed in the northern and middle belts of the country to host events.

He regretted that the country has no big facilities to host global events hence the construction of a 20,000-seater conference hall at the Ghana Trade Fair Centre in Accra in the Greater Accra Region

According to Mr Mercer despite negative comments by detractors, the government will continue to work for the betterment of Ghanaians

For his part, the deputy minister of the sector, Mark Okraku Mantey, said there was hope for the creative industry.

He called on Ghanaians to support government’s efforts to develop the country.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Akwasi Agyeman, commended Mr Mercer for his support of the tourism industry.

The Acting Western Regional Director of the CNC, Reverend Stephen Ebo Kessie, regretted that the initial 23-acre land designated for the project has significantly reduced due to encroachment.

He thanked the government for commencing work on the project.