Bolgatanga, May 19, GNA - The Upper East Centre for National Culture (CNC) has no theatre and this is affecting most of its performances, Naa Luciani Tungbani, Regional Director of the CNC said. In an interview with the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday, the Regional Director said work on the theatre had come to a standstill and the building was still at the foundation level.

He appealed to the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture to as a matter of urgency come to the aid of the Centre and ensure that the theatre got completed to enable the CNC to perform its role effectively. He noted that it was disappointing for the Upper East Region which would be celebrating its 50th anniversary to be without a theatre and asked non-governmental organizations, philanthropists and communities in the region to contribute to complete the project.

Naa Tungbani said there were a lot of benefits that could be accrued from the theatre when completed which includes the promotion of national cohesion, employment, exposure of talents by the youth, entertainment and the promotion of cultural identity.

Naa Tungbani expressed concern over the proliferation of negative foreign songs which had taken over the rich cultural songs of the country and said the youth should be taught cultural songs to minimize the proliferation.

He expressed concern about the way and manner people engaged in basket weaving, leather work, pottery, and craft were exploited by middlemen and exporters and urged them to form cooperatives to achieve the maximum benefit from their work.

Naa Tungbani appealed to the district assemblies in the region to assist the craftsmen and women by empowering them with skills to enable them to add more value to their work.

He stressed the need for reeds to be planted along the White Volta to make it accessible to the weavers who had to travel to the Brong Ahafo Region to buy the reeds for their work. Naa Tungbani said he would, among other things, revamp the textile and weaving industry and see to it that the theatre was completed.