Renowned Ghanaian playwright Latif Abubakar is advocating for the creative arts—particularly theatre—to be considered a viable alternative source of national revenue.
According to him, Ghana’s wealth has long been tied to cocoa exports and mineral resources, but there is untapped potential in the theatre industry that could elevate the country’s economic standing.
“If we do this right, Ghana will not depend only on cocoa,” Abubakar stated at the press launch of his latest stage production, Ghana Must Go, in Accra.
The award-winning playwright, who has already staged 19 productions, described theatre as a form of soft power that not only projects Ghana’s culture but also attracts investment and fosters tourism.
He revealed that Ghana Must Go—a modern adaptation of the 1983 mass expulsion of Ghanaians from Nigeria—is being used to reposition Ghana as an investment hub within West Africa and beyond.
The new play, being rolled out in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts and The Black Star Experience, is expected to tour internationally after its debut in Ghana.
Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, praised the initiative and called for financial support and broader inclusion to unlock the full potential of the creative sector.
“This is how we sell Ghana; this is how we move the creative economy forward,” the Minister emphasized.
The Deputy Chief Executive of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Gilbert ‘Abeiku Santana’ Aggrey, was also present at the launch, along with Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) President, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, and veteran actors Fred Amugi and Jackie Ankrah, who all pledged their support to the project.
Ghana Must Go will officially be staged on May 24 and 25, 2025, at the Accra International Conference Centre, marking what Abubakar hopes will be a turning point in Ghana’s economic and cultural narrative.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Ekow Boakye
