Hot!
We’re aware of deplorable state of National Theatre – Board Chairman
The Board Chairman of the National Theatre, Nana Fredua-Agyeman Ofori-Atta, has acknowledged the facility’s current state as a significant concern for the board and management.
He indicated that actions are being taken to raise funds for its much-needed refurbishment.
This admission follows a protest staged by workers expressing discontent over delayed promotions and the deteriorating condition of the theatre. Addressing the media at a press conference, he detailed management’s measures to secure funds for the crucial refurbishment project.
Expressing dissatisfaction with media reports alleging mismanagement by the Executive Director, as claimed by protesting workers, Atta emphasized the board’s commitment to addressing these concerns but urged the media to be circumspect.
The National Theatre, once a symbol of cultural glory, now stands in a state of despair. Broken chairs in the auditorium and malfunctioning air conditioners paint a grim picture. Workers describe the facility as a challenging and unsafe working environment, labelling it a “death trap.”
The aggrieved staff also highlighted issues of stagnant promotions spanning over a decade and outstanding allowances. In addition, there is a collective call for the removal of the Executive Director, citing mandatory retirement as the grounds for this demand.
Responding to these concerns, the board chairman revealed the intention to retain the current Executive Director on contract while actively searching for a replacement. This move, he claims, aligns with the National Theatre’s best interests, taking into account the difficult circumstances it’s currently in.
“The deterioration didn’t start this year. It didn’t start last year. It’s been there long ago. In that period, proper infrastructure maintenance has been done, I think twice. So that’s a problem, and you know you can’t use GH¢500,000 to maintain this place,” he stressed.
He further added that “what we needed is funding, and it’s not as simple as that. We need to go through the system and budget for it.”
As the theatre grapples with internal challenges, the commitment to securing its future remains at the forefront of the board’s agenda, he added.
The managers of the facility have come under intense criticism for not doing much to renovate the facility.
Ssource: Citinewsroom.com
Hot!
Focus on more pressing issues like Galamsey, not hate speech – Ellen Ama Daaku to Mahama
An aide to former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia,Ellen Ama Daaku has advised President John Dramani Mahama to shift his attention from social media hate speech to more urgent national issues such as illegal mining.
Speaking in an interview, she noted that the President’s recent comments about tracking the IP addresses of people who spread hate speech were unnecessary.
According to her, President Mahama must first define what he considers to be hate speech before seeking to punish people for it.
Ms. Daaku argued that the President himself had benefitted from hate speech and social media attacks in the past when he was in opposition.
She said even during his time in government, he described his opponents and their tribesmen in unpalatable terms, which later drew complaints from former President Nana Akufo-Addo to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference.
She stressed that harsh criticism of leaders on social media should not automatically be considered hate speech, adding that former leaders, including former President Nana Akufo-Addo had all been subjected to it.
“He is only feeling what Nana Akufo-Addo went through for eight years,” she remarked.
While acknowledging the need to regulate misconduct online, Ms. Daaku insisted that going after social media activists should not be a priority.
She noted that many political activists, including herself, had been insulted and attacked online but never called for arrests.
She concluded that President Mahama should focus his energy on solving pressing problems such as galamsey and the economy instead of concentrating on critics on social media.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Hot!
Prof Alidu Seidu files nomination for Tamale Central seat
The newly elected parliamentary candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for Tamale Central, Prof Alidu Seidu, has submitted his nomination forms to the Electoral Commission.
As of 10:00 a.m. today, he was the only person who had filed to contest the seat.
Nomination of candidates will close at the end of the day.
Associate Professor and Head of the Political Science Department at the University of Ghana Legon, Prof. Alidu Seidu won the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primaries in the Tamale Central constituency with a landslide victory.
The elections, supervised by the party’s Elections and IT Directorate in the Northern Region, saw Prof. Seidu poll 840 votes out of the total valid ballots cast.
His closest contender, Lawyer Hanan Gundadow Abdul-Rahaman, secured 536 votes.
The other aspirants could not make significant gains, with Dr. Seidu Fiter obtaining 44 votes, Aliu Abdul-Hamid 23 votes, and the rest recording fewer than 10 votes each.
In all, 1,500 ballots were cast, with 6 ballots rejected and 7 spoilt ballots recorded.
The results were signed and declared by Dr. Arnold Mashud Abukari, NDC Northern Regional Director of Elections and IT.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) held parliamentary primaries in Tamale Central to choose a candidate for the upcoming by-election following the death of the sitting Member of Parliament, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed. Dr. Mohammed, who also served as Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, tragically died in a military helicopter crash in the Adansi Akrofuom District on August 6, 2025, alongside seven others.
His passing left the Tamale Central seat vacant, as required by Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.
The Electoral Commission has scheduled the by-election for September 30, 2025. While the NDC moved quickly to open nominations and vet aspirants, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) announced it would not contest the seat, citing the need to respect the somber circumstances and promote national unity.
By: Jacob Aggrey
