Mark Okraku-Mantey, Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, has reported that the construction of the five amphitheatres promised by the government is approximately 70 percent complete.
In October 2022, Dr. Mohammed Awal, then Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, announced a plan to build five amphitheatres by the end of 2022, with an additional five slated for 2023.
The goal was to establish performance venues across all 16 regions by 2024.
However, two years later, there are concerns that the projects are still unfinished.
At a Creative Arts forum hosted by 3Entertainment on August 30, 2024, Okraku-Mantey assured attendees that the amphitheatres are nearing completion.
“The amphitheatres are about 70 percent done,” he is reported by 3news.com to have said.
The amphitheatres, part of President Akufo-Addo’s 2020 manifesto for the creative arts sector, began with a sod-cutting ceremony at the Centre for National Culture (CNC) in Kumasi in April of the previous year.
Plans include similar venues in Tamale, Accra, and Takoradi, each with a capacity of up to 1,000 people.
Despite the progress report, there are ongoing calls for the government to upgrade the National Theatre to a more modern facility.