The Centre for Cultural and African Studies of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has launched a five-year Strategic Plan to restructure its activities to reflect changing trends in the performing arts industry.

It has been dubbed: “Plan 2k19” and would cost about GH¢2.3 million to implement.

Mrs Vera Adu-Gyamfi, Director of the Centre, said key activities would involve research, strengthening of teaching and co-curricular programmes, analysing the political systems, ruler-ship and succession in Africa, the social systems, kinship and inheritance.

Under the plan, structures of the African traditional systems, cultural practices and the performing arts would be carefully examined within the context of science, technology and industrialisation.

The goal is to build a competitive niche in the arts and performing arts industry.

"The Centre is also eager to develop scholarships in African culture and heritage,” she added.

Mrs Adu-Gyamfi again spoke of the decision of the Centre to construct its own office complex and acquire vital logistics, including a vehicle and audio-visual equipment.

She noted that the objectives for establishing the Centre had been overwhelmed by contemporary demands for formal education programmes in the performing arts and African cultural practices.

“It has become necessary to give the Centre a new impetus and drive that could give more meaning to, and fulfill the demands of the present generation who have vested interest in scholarly excellence in the performing arts and African studies.”

Professor William Otoo Ellis, the KNUST Vice-Chancellor, in a speech read for him, said the Centre would soon introduce proficiency courses and undergraduate programmes in cultural and performing arts.

This, he said, would help to attract more international students from the sub-region and European countries.