The Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture, Hon. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal has paid a working visit to Kumasi Cultural Centre, which is also known as the Centre for National Culture (CNC)-Kumasi. This was to enable him to have a holistic view, business perspectives, and a personal experience of the activities, products, goods and services the Centre offers.
He was accompanied by Hon. Mark Okraku-Mantey, Mr Akwasi Agyemang of Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), among other dignitaries.
In his keynote address at a grand durbar, he indicated Ashanti Region is the home and hub of culture in Ghana. He promised to revamp the Centre and give it a befitting status and assured the creatives (FIPAG, MUSIGA, etc.) and staff of the Centre of his support.
The Hon. Minister and his entourage were warmly welcomed by the Regional Director of Centre for National Culture, Kumasi, BARIMA K. ASUMADU SAKYI.
AT A GLANCE
The Kumasi Cultural Centre was established in 1951 by Dr Alexander Atta Yaw Kyerematen (1916-1976), the father of the current Minister of Trade and Industry, Hon., John Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen (Alan Cash). It was officially inaugurated by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Sir Osei Agyeman Prempeh I.
It was through the tireless efforts of Dr A. A. Y. Kyerematen’s that the Asanteman Council, acting through the Asantehene, Otumfuo Sir Osei Agyeman Prempeh II, graciously granted the massive land at the present-day Kumasi Cultural Centre; and their sitting allowances on that same day for the cultural centre project to kick-start.
The multi-purpose Centre for National Culture, Kumasi, was previously called Ashanti Cultural Centre. It was however in 1963, that Dr Kwame Nkrumah while embarking on a national assignment to Tamale, made a detour to the Ashanti Cultural Centre to witness the activities of the Ashanti Cultural Centre for the first time. It was following his favourable observation of the project and its cultural relevance, that resulted in the nationalization and renaming of the facility into Ghana National Cultural Centre (GNCC).
Noting the significance of the Centre, the PNDC Government policy framework of decentralization, under the hegemony of Flt. Lt. J.J Rawlings in 1990, changed the name once again to Centre for National Culture, Kumasi. This ensured that all the remaining regions of the Republic of Ghana had a replica of the “Ashanti Cultural Centre”.
Indeed, the Kumasi Cultural Centre, being the first of its kind in Ghana, biggest in West Africa, has several facilities of the original component including the Kumasi Zoo, Archival Centre & Ashanti Library. Apart from that, all other facilities within the Centre encompassing a Museum, Craft Shops, Galleries, Grounds & Parks, and Theatres, Rehearsal arenas for traditional music, dance and drama groups, among others are still extant.
Source: Ashantibiz
