Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Dr. Ziblim Barri Iddi has come under serious attack following his comments that the ruling NPP government did not promise to build theaters in all regions as Ghanaians think.
He was reported to have said that “what was written in the manifesto meant renovation of Art Centres for entertainment purposes but people misconstrued it to mean building new theatres.” This comment from the deputy minister has angered several creative arts stakeholders including radio presenter and entertainment critic, Kojo Preko Dankwa. The Kasapa FM entertainment show host in an open letter written to Dr. Ziblin has expressed his disappointment in the minister’s explanation of the NPP’s 2016 manifesto.
Mr. Preko who happens to be the convener for arts-based pressure group, Federation Of Concerned Arts Professionals (FOCAP) in the message posted on Facebook said he was of the view that Dr. Ziblim Barri Iddi was “ the best technocrats we have had in all times since you were too silent and the assumption was work is being done effectively to achieve the maximum height for our creative Arts industry.”
Read the unedited open letter Kwadwo Preko-Dankwa wrote to the Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Dr. Ziblim Barri Iddi zionfelix.net sighted on Facebook.
dear Dr Ziblim,
lam most happy today to finally write to you and share my view points on a number of issues raised during your interview with my good brother mustapha . My view point because in your view point you did so well to explain what your manifesto said on the construction of theaters. Dr Ziblim, you have just deepened the mistrust, bad perception and wicked attitude of some politicians especially on our part of the country . l taught you were the best technocrats we have had in all times since you were too silent and the assumption was work is being done effectively to achieve the maximum height for our creative Arts industry . l now want to believe that it was good and better when you were not talking. Dr i have read and watched you explaining an aspect of your party manifesto which talks about pursuing the construction of MODERN LARGE SEATING THEATERS IN EVERY REGIONAL CAPITAL .. Dr Zimblim when did you realize there was confusion with the definition of theater and Arts centers. Dr Ziblim, where were you when the creative arts section of your manifesto was written and was giving full explanations/meanings to by your party faithfuls including your recruited creative arts soldiers, A number of questions comes into mind that ….was the confusion created to deceive us to vote for your party to come to power, couldn’t we have corrected this confusion long ago when the creative art media started talking about it, what were your beloved recruited soldiers in the Arts to correct this abnormally, are you saying we so naive to know the difference between theater and art centers. Am asking all these questions because am just disappointed and shocked .Dr Ziblim if i may ask ,what is the difference between arts center and a theater because you said ‘ it doesn’t make sense for a region to have an original theater and Arts center.. oh then other questions comes to mind ..does it make sense to have arts center in Accra and still have national theater because they will all be serving the same audience ..as you said .
Dr Ziblim , do you recall that on the 19th of October 2016, myjoyonline.com published a story with the banner headline : NPP PROMISES ONE REGION ,ONE THEATER’. Let me quote the second paragraph ‘ speaking at a media briefing ,member of parliament for Anyaa south ,Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey said except Accra which has a MODERN theater, the remaining nine regional capitals will have their share of theaters, she said very little attention has been given to that of creative industry but the party will reverse that trend, Dr Ziblim why are you trying to reverse and re write that trend for creative arts industry in your manifesto. Dr ziblim i want to know if you throwing in the towel to let us know it cannot be done? when was your last time you attended a programme/event at Accra arts center that in your explanation in the manifesto Accra wont have one but Takoradi ,Tamale and Kumasi . So you telling me Art center in Accra is in its modern shape and cool to host all theater programmes ?
On the 29th of January 2018 , your minister held a meet the press at the press hall of ministry of information. she answered questions among the reconstruction of takoradi theater where it was in the hands of an investor ,they going to collapse the original building and construct a modern one .madam Catherine Afeku how will you term your own…art center or an original theater (Dr Ziblim) definition. seriously is amazing how politicians can twist their tongue and go scout free .
Dr Ziblim am not surprise because on the 6th of August 2013 GNA report with the headline : GOVERNMENT TO BUILD SECOND NATIONAL THEATER … President John Dramani Mahama on Monday announced that government had secured funding from the Turkish Export and import (EXIM) Bank,to construct a second national theater in kumasi . l do not know if your words captured in the manifesto ‘PURSUE’ will do justice to non existence theater .
yours faithfully
Kojo Preko Dankwa
Focap GH
Host kasapa Entertainment
executive producer
Anopa Kasapa
kasapa fm
0575655656