Ghana has secured a $30 million grant from China to rehabilitate and modernise the National Theatre, a project expected to strengthen the country’s performing arts sector and support growth in the creative economy.
Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts Minister Abla Dzifa Gomashie disclosed the funding at the Global Dialogue on “China’s Governance and Worldwide Development” in Accra where she called for deeper cooperation between the two countries in tourism, culture and the creative industries.
The grant is one of the areas of Ghana-China collaboration highlighted by the minister, who said stronger ties could support investment in tourism infrastructure, destination marketing, heritage preservation, skills development and technology transfer.
The proposed National Theatre upgrade is expected to improve infrastructure for the performing arts, a sector the government sees as part of the wider creative economy. The minister did not provide details on when the rehabilitation will begin, the scope of the works or the disbursement arrangements for the grant.
Gomashie said the benefits of Ghana-China relations should be assessed beyond financial investment and infrastructure projects, pointing instead to the institutions strengthened, businesses established, jobs created and opportunities generated for citizens of both countries.
She also identified skills training and technology transfer as areas where closer cooperation could help develop Ghana’s tourism and creative industries.
