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group calling itself Concern Youth For Brong Ahafo Development are
calling on Government to as a matter of urgency complete the Brong
Ahafo Centre of National Culture Before 29th November 2014.
FULL SPEECH
CONCERN YOUTH FOR BRONG AHAFO DEVELOPMENT
PRESS RELEASE:
USE National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFAC) TO COMPLETE SUNYANI
CULTURAL CENTRE BUILDING.
The Brong Ahafo Centre for National Culture, Formerly the Arts Council
of Ghana, was established in 1961. The Centre was housed in rented
premises in Opanin Kyereme's House opposite the Sunyani High court.
After numerous appeal to the central Government and the Sunyani Urban
Council to build permanent structures for the cultural center from the
onset, the actual building project started late in 1963. An initial
amount of twelve thousand cedis (12,000.00) out of an estimated cost
of one hundred and twenty thousand (120,000.00) was provided by the
Central government and the Sunyani Urban Council in the ratio of
8,000.00and 4,000.00 respectively to begin the project. The 6 acre
land was a gift from the Sunyani Traditional Council (STC).
The Foundation stone was laid in 1964 by Hon. Kofi Asante Ofori Atta,
the then Minister of Justice. The S.C.C was the contractor. The
project took off so smoothly and steadily that by May 1965, the
administrative terrace had reached the roofing stage. However work on
the building began to slacken apparently owing to lack of funds.
The building project was subsequently abandoned after the 1966 coup.
Work on the building resumed in 1972, but was short lived because it
was detected that the S.C.C were working without structural drawing.
In 1973, the S.C.C decided to suspend work when the PWD failed to
furnish them with the structural drawings.
In May 1976, the central Government voted 30,000.00 cedis for work to
resume on the project. It was during this time that the administrative
block was roofed. But thereafter, work came to a halt until 1989 when
it restarted in earnest.
In April 1990, a tragedy hit the center when the entire roofing of the
administrative block was blown off by rain storm, causing extensive
damage to most of the centers equipment and documents. In 1991, work
on the project was reactivated. Since then the project has been
abandoned.
However, the Government awarded the contract of the completion of the
administrative block to J. Adom Ltd. And as of now but for lack of
funds the block would have been ready for use as office accommodation.
The main auditorium and the stage are still uncompleted. In fact, the
entire stage block is far from complete.
BENEFITS OF THE CULTURAL CENTER COMPLEX
The cultural Center Complex is the hub of the people's social,
cultural and entertainment activities. Such a center pre-supposes the
establishment and maintenance of a Drinking bar; Open Air, enclosed
Theatre, a Restaurant, Playing Grounds and a Museum.
Regular and periodic entertainment packages for the people are the
obligation of the cultural center's Administration. Through such
entertainment programmes the people find outlet for the free
expression of their cultural identity. It also provides inducements
for the people to relate to the Government's Cultural policies.
As a platform for the dissemination and exchange of cultural and
artistic innovation, a cultural center complex is indispensable.
Per all these benefits the Centre will bring to the region we regret
that majority of uncompleted cultural edifices put up in this region
by Ghana's first President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah has been abandoned. We
have observed that because of inadequate funding, the CNC had lagged
behind in the promotion of the country's abundant cultural heritage
including horticulture. If properly harnessed; Ghana's rich culture
could be highlighted in the international community to earn a lot of
foreign exchange for development.
Cultural development had been neglected by successive governments for
a long time and now that the National Festival for Arts and Culture
(NAFAC) is going to be held in Sunyani on 29thNovember 2014 by the
Centre for National Culture, in collaboration with the Brong-Ahafo
Regional Co-ordinating Council, there is the need for government to
initiate the move to see to the completion of the center which is
intended to serve as a platform to highlight our traditions and
culture. This festival should present unique opportunity to
re-strategize and meet the development aspirations of the people.
We, therefore, call on Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts
and the Brong-Ahafo Regional Co-ordinating Council to make all
resources available including the completion of the Centre for
National Culture to enable the region hold a successful National
Festival come 29thNovember this year and to ensure that tourism,
culture and creative Arts will have its firm ground in the Brong-
Ahafo Region.
SIGNED
COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR
(0269006029, 0208245464)
"ME MAN NTI, ENYE MENTI"
Credit: Myarkfmonline
