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The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Mrs. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has directed individuals occupying abandoned community cinemas nationwide to vacate the facilities to pave the way for the government’s planned refurbishment and revival of local cinematography.
Mrs. Gomashie gave the directive during her two-day working tour of the Ashanti Region, where she visited several tourism, culture, and creative arts sites and engaged stakeholders on improving the sector.
According to the minister, the abandoned cinemas hold significant potential for community development and the growth of the creative arts. She described the unauthorized occupation of the buildings as a major obstacle to the government’s redevelopment agenda.
“These community cinemas are key assets for reviving our film culture and boosting local creativity. We cannot proceed with renovation works while people continue to occupy them unlawfully. They must vacate immediately,” Mrs. Gomashi stated.
She further emphasized that restoring these facilities forms part of a broader plan to strengthen film production, enhance community entertainment, and improve the country’s creative economy.
During her engagements, the minister met with Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), Kumawood actors, and hospitality industry leaders. Discussions focused on strategies to make tourism more attractive in the Ashanti Region and create a stronger creative arts value chain.
The General Secretary of the Kumawood Actors Association Board Mr. Emmanuel Anane, also raised major concerns affecting the movie industry, including heavy taxation by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
“One of our biggest challenges is the high taxes imposed on filmmakers after movie premieres. These charges are crippling and make it difficult for the industry to grow,” he lamented.
Mrs. Gomashie is expected to continue her regional tour as part of the government’s efforts to reposition tourism and the creative arts as key contributors to national development.
Story by Enock Baffoe/uniquenewsgh.com
