National Theatre honours Uncle Ebo Whyte, 9 others
The National Theatre has honoured renowned playwright Mr James Ebo Whyte, popularly known as Uncle Ebo Whyte, and nine other distinguished former employees for their outstanding service and contributions to the institution and Ghana’s creative industry.
The ceremony, held in Accra, formed part of the second edition of the National Theatre’s recognition initiative and the Theatre’s third-week celebration, which runs from September 28 to October 4, 2026.
The Executive Director of the National Theatre, Mr Henry Herbert Malm, said the dedication, passion and excellence demonstrated by the honourees had helped shape the legacy of the institution and laid the foundation on which it stood today.
Mr Malm described Uncle Ebo Whyte’s contribution to Ghanaian theatre as “monumental”, noting that his productions had demonstrated the power of theatre to heal, educate, entertain and inspire society.
He said the recognition initiative was the Theatre’s way of expressing appreciation to individuals who had dedicated their lives to building the institution and contributing to the growth of the creative industry.
According to him, the contributions of the honourees had created a sustainable foundation for the current generation of theatre practitioners and creatives to build on.
He explained that the initiative was also intended to encourage current staff and practitioners to remain committed to their work, stressing that dedication and hard work would eventually receive recognition.
“Whatever you put into what you’re doing, others will watch you. So if you do it well, there will be a time when they’ll call you and say, thank you, good job,” Mr Malm said.
As part of the recognition, 10 former employees, including Uncle Ebo Whyte, were honoured for their service to the National Theatre.
Mr Malm said their contributions, whether behind the scenes, under the spotlight or in the offices, had played an important role in keeping the flame of Ghanaian theatre burning.
Responding to the honour, Uncle Ebo Whyte, Artistic Director and Lead Writer of Roverman Productions, expressed his gratitude to the management of the National Theatre for the recognition.
He urged young people not to abandon the arts, stressing that art remained an important part of life and could be used as a powerful tool to influence society and make a positive impact.
Another honouree, Mr David Tawiah Amoo, who joined the National Theatre in 1992 as a member of the Ghana Dance Ensemble of the Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, one of the Theatre’s resident companies, also expressed his appreciation for the recognition.
Mr Amoo said he and his colleagues remained ready to support the National Theatre with their experience, advice and suggestions whenever necessary.
He also commended external individuals and institutions that had supported the National Theatre’s mission over the years, saying their contributions had helped strengthen the institution and its activities.
The third-week celebration was designed to highlight the relevance of theatre and the performing arts to national development, while recognising the contributions of individuals who had helped advance Ghana’s creative and cultural landscape.
BY VINCENT DOH
You can now read the *Ghanaian Times* and *The Spectator* newspapers digitally on [TimesNewsPlus](https://timesnewsplus.com/newspapers).
Follow our WhatsApp Channel now! https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q
