Government is deepening support for theatre and the creative arts as part of efforts to strengthen cultural preservation and expand the sector’s economic contribution, Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts Minister Abla Dzifa Gomashie noted this at the launch of the Abibigromma Theatre Festival at the University of Ghana.
The minister described theatre as a strategic tool for education, national identity and development, noting that the broader creative and tourism industries already play a meaningful role in Ghana’s economy. According to her, government has committed seed funding for the Creative Arts Fund, a renewed policy focused on building a sustainable creative ecosystem.
The festival also highlighted the role of Abibigromma, the resident theatre company of the University of Ghana’s School of Performing Arts, which has gained recognition for Afrocentric productions, educational outreach and community engagement. The company has long served as a platform for training performers and preserving indigenous performance traditions.
University officials used the occasion to call for a repositioning of Abibigromma within the academic and cultural landscape. The Provost of the College of Humanities and other speakers said strengthening the theatre company’s institutional support would enhance its contribution to the university’s mandate and Ghana’s wider creative economy.
The Abibigromma Theatre Festival is expected to reinforce cultural values, expand audience engagement and underscore theatre’s relevance to national development, as government and academia seek closer alignment between policy, education and creative practice.
