Ablah Dzifa Gomashie is not doing enough to support creatives — Vida Adutwumwaa

Ghanaian media personality Vida Adutwumwaa has criticised the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Ablah Dzifa Gomashie, over what she describes as inadequate support for creatives, particularly in the wake of concerns surrounding the planned renovation and temporary closure of the National Theatre.

Speaking during a discussion on the recent developments surrounding the National Theatre on UTV’s United Showbiz, Vida questioned the Minister’s commitment to addressing the immediate concerns of people who depend on the facility for their creative activities.

“Ablah Dzifa Gomashie is not doing enough to support creatives, and she does not appear likely to be helpful to the industry,” Vida Adutwumwaa.

Her comments come amid renewed discussions over the future of the National Theatre, following government's announcement of plans to undertake a major renovation and modernisation of the facility.

The government announced in August that it had secured support from the People’s Republic of China to renovate and modernise the National Theatre. According to Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts Minister Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the project is intended to restore the theatre's infrastructure, improve its technical facilities and reposition it as a world-class centre for Ghanaian arts and culture.

The planned renovation has, however, raised concerns among some industry stakeholders over where creatives will operate while the facility is unavailable.

Team Lead of ImageBureau, George Quaye, previously appealed to authorities to delay the closure of the National Theatre until alternative venues were made available to creatives. He argued that shutting down the facility without a suitable replacement could disrupt productions and affect people whose livelihoods depend on the theatre.

The call for a temporary venue has also been echoed on United Showbiz, with veteran broadcaster Charly D advocating for an alternative space for the creative industry while the renovation takes place.

The issue has therefore shifted beyond the renovation itself to the question of how creatives will be supported during the transition.

Despite the concerns, Gomashie has maintained that the renovation is necessary to give the National Theatre the infrastructure and technical capacity required to serve the industry effectively.

She disclosed that a high-level Chinese delegation visited the facility in December 2025 to assess its condition and determine the scope of the proposed renovation. She also said management had introduced a stricter maintenance regime and improved security at the theatre ahead of the broader intervention.

The proposed works are expected to cover the theatre's infrastructure, technical systems and overall functionality, with the ultimate aim of creating a modern facility capable of supporting concerts, theatre productions, exhibitions and other creative activities.