Bolgatanga, May 19, GNA - The Upper East Regional Director of the Centre for National Culture (CNC), Naa Luciani Tungbani, has said the Centre has no theatre and this was affecting most of its activities. He said even though there had been a foundation for the building of a theatre at Bolgatanga, work on it had come to a standstill. In an interview with GNA in Bolgatanga, Naa Tungbani appealed to the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture to as a matter of urgency ensure the completion of the project. He said that it was disappointing that the Region which would be celebrating its 50th anniversary did not have a theatre and asked non-governmental organizations, and philanthropists to support the project.

Naa Tungbani said the existence of a theatre could bring national cohesion, employment, exposure of talents of the youth and promote entertainment and culture.

He said the proliferation of negative foreign culture including songs had taken over the rich culture of Ghana. Naa Tungbani expressed concern about the exploitation of people engaging in basket weaving, leather works, pottery, and craft by middlemen and exporters and appealed to the craftsmen and craftswomen to form cooperative society and to register as exporters to enable them to benefit fully from their work. He appealed to district assemblies in the region to assist craftsmen and craftswomen improve on their skills. Naa Tungbani said reeds used for weaving by the people in the region were getting extinct and the people had to travel to Brong Ahafo Region to buy the raw material at high cost. He urged the people to plant reeds along the White Volta and other Irrigation sites. Naa Tungbani said he would work hard to revamp the weaving and textile industries, the Centre's brass band and ensure the completion of the theatre.