Veteran Ghanaian actress Akosua Abdallah has voiced her concerns about the current state of the National Theatre and the financial challenges the facility faces.

Speaking to Elsie Lamar on Talkertainment on GhanaWeb TV, Abdallah, who has worked at the Theatre, described the situation as dire.

She noted that the facility now has to pay for its utilities and maintenance, which were previously covered by the government.

“I think the National Theatre is suffering in the sense that I worked at the theatre. Utilities are very, very high to pay. Electricity is very high. Years ago, as a government institution, it was free. But now, the National Theatre as a facility has to pay utilities and they have to also support and maintain the place,” she stated.

She bemoaned the barrage of criticisms directed at the theatre, stating, “For a very long time the theatre has been hit very hard when it comes to criticisms, et cetera, et cetera. Somebody was complaining that mosquitoes bit him when he was sitting at the National Theatre watching a production. It's really a difficult situation.”

Abdallah called for investment from both the private and public sectors to help renovate the theatre.

“But after 30 years, I think the National Theatre, like the Kwame Nkrumah Museum, needs money to transform the place. We need to renovate the place all over again. I think this is the time that corporate Ghana or the government itself can come on board to support the theatre,” she said.

ID/NOQ

See the full interview below;