The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has underscored the critical role of theatre in shaping national identity, character development and sustainable development, describing its decline as a threat to the moral foundation of society.
She made these remarks on Thursday, January 23, 2026, at the official launch of the Abibigromma Theatre Festival held at the Efua Sutherland Drama Studio at the University of Ghana, Legon.
The event was attended by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Provost of the College of Humanities, Professor Joseph Awetori Yaro, Dean of the School of Performing Arts, Dr. Sylvanus Kwashie Kuwor, lecturers, students, theatre practitioners, members of Abibigromma, and the media.
Before delivering her address, the Minister invited the audience to observe a minute’s silence in honour of departed icons of Ghana’s arts and culture sector, including Mr. Sandy Arkhurst, Mrs. Rawlings, Prof. Kofi Awoonor, Prof. Ama Ata Aidoo, and Dr. Mohammed Ben Abdallah.
Reflecting on her own journey as a theatre practitioner, Hon. Gomashie described the Abibigromma Theatre Festival as deeply personal, noting that theatre has long served as a powerful medium for storytelling, education, and the transmission of cultural values across generations.
She said theatre in Ghana has gone beyond entertainment, serving as a vehicle for preserving indigenous knowledge, oral traditions, music, dance, and aesthetics that define the nation’s cultural identity.
“The decline of theatre,” she noted, “is the decline in the building of the character of citizens.”
The Minister traced the historical commitment of the Ghanaian state to theatre development, recalling that the construction of the National Theatre of Ghana in 1992 was a culturally inspired decision rooted in earlier visions of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. She also expressed her lingering disappointment over the demolition of the original Efua Sutherland Drama Studio to make way for the National Theatre, arguing that both structures could have coexisted.
Hon. Gomashie highlighted the growing economic importance of the creative sector, revealing that Ghana’s creative and tourism industries contributed over US$4.8 billion to the national GDP in 2024, making it the fourth-highest contributing sector. She stressed that the industry has the potential to generate significant foreign earnings if given the needed attention.
She also raised concerns about the incomplete theatre infrastructure at the University of Ghana, despite the significant financial contributions of students from the Institute of African Studies and the School of Performing Arts, noting that she and the Vice-Chancellor have both engaged relevant authorities on the matter.
Touching on government policy, the Minister said the administration of President John Dramani Mahama views culture as a strategic economic asset under the Black Star Experience initiative, aimed at driving a resilient and inclusive 24-hour economy. She emphasized that theatre must play a central role in shaping public mindset towards national development and the government’s reset agenda.
She further announced that the government has allocated GH₵20 million in the 2026 budget as seed funding for the establishment of a Creative Arts Fund, designed to provide sustainable financing for artists and creative productions. According to her, work is already underway on the legal and policy frameworks, with the fund expected to be launched later this year.
Hon. Gomashie expressed optimism that the Abibigromma Theatre Festival would help safeguard Ghana’s cultural identity in an increasingly digital world, stressing the importance of passing on history, values and moral lessons through live performance.
She concluded by urging stakeholders to use the arts as a mirror of the past, present and future, reminding society of its responsibilities to generations yet unborn.
With the permission of university authorities, the Minister officially declared the 2026 Abibigromma Theatre Festival duly launched.