Radio Presenter Questions Catherine Afeku’s Commitment To The Creative Arts
Radio presenter, Austine Woode talks about Prez Nana Addo’s ‘State Of the Nation Address’. Moreover, he penned down a letter stating emphatically that Catherine Afeku was the wrong choice for the position. Madam Catherine Afeku is the minister of Tourism and Creative Arts.
Austine Woode is a popular radio presenter with EIB’s Abusua FM in Kumasi. Furthermore, he stated she has not helped the sector at all.
Austine Woode about appointment of Catherine Afeku
President Akufo Addo since becoming President in 2017 has shown a great to improve the fortunes of the creative arts industry. This contributes massively to the Ghanaian economy. Since the start of the 4th republic, no Ghanaian Presidential candidate has had more creative arts players endorsing his candidature than President Akufo Addo.
The President has on countless occasions reiterated his commitment to make the industry a bigger one. However, I believe the appointment of Madam Catherine Afeku as Minister for Tourism and Creative arts was a wrong move. This move will hinder the progress the industry so much needs.
On the 4th of January, 2019, I covered the launch of the rehabilitation of the Kumasi Cultural center’s “Apatakesie ase”. At the said event, Ghanaian movie actor Bill Asamoah asked Minister Catherine Afeku
“Madam we know the NPP promised in its manifesto for 2016 to construct an ultra-modern theatre in every regional capital except Accra. Please is this the one we are launching here or that one is different?”
Madam Catherine Afeku in answering stated categorically that they were 2 different projects and industry players should be calm because the theatres promised in their 2016 manifesto will also be delivered. The representative of the Bantamahene also said we in the Ashanti region should be grateful to the NPP gov’t for taking the bold step to renovate the “Apatakesie ase” and will trust the Minister to deliver the manifesto theatre in the future.
Rest of his post
During the SONA2019, President Akufo Addo said: “The Eastern Regional Theatre has been completed, and work is currently ongoing towards the construction of the Kumasi theatre”. I will like to respectfully tell the President that what he told Parliament is not true
The renovation of the Eastern Region cultural center is never a construction of a theatre as the President sort to say. Also to link that with Kumasi and say the Kumasi theatre is currently ongoing is not a true representation of facts. There’s no construction of a theatre currently ongoing in Kumasi so what was the President referring to.
From the above, is President Akufo Addo telling Ghanaians that renovation is equal to construction? No, because after the SONA2019, Adom TV interviewed Madam Catherine Afeku. She said what they promised in the manifesto is finished and on paper. So Madam when will the one on paper materialize and what briefing did the President get to say the Eastern Regional theatre had been completed?
How come the sector minister keeps saying something different from what the President told the whole country? Is the President really the man in charge? Is he still passionate about the creative arts industry like he showed in opposition? Or he only needed the endorsement of the industry players? Madam Catherine Afeku has failed the President and has failed to improve the industry. Mr. President sack her or apologize for not telling Ghanaians the truth. God bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong.
