Work begins on 37-year-old abandoned amphitheatre at Fijai
Work has commenced for the completion of a theatre complex, which has been abandoned for the past 36 years at the Western Regional Centre for National Culture (CNC) at Fijai, near Sekondi.
The GH¢45million edifice with a 2,000 capacity started in 1988, but, stalled due to delays in finances. It had travelled more than four successive governments and remained abandoned since 2009.
At the time, the closed theatre (auditorium) was available for use but not completed.
Outstanding works included polishing of terrazzo flooring, mending of some leakages, excavation to check flooding, external works (terracing and landscaping), spotlights, car park, provision of furniture and public address systems.
Presently, Attachy Construction Limited is putting finishing touches on the stage of the main auditorium, external fencing, pavements and parking space, and is expected to be completed in this month, December.
The scope of the project include a closed theatre, stage lighting systems and with an orchestra pitch, wooden furnishing for the stage, a crafts village, a two-storey 88-bed capacity artists hostel, an administrative block, sociological garden, research library and museum, and an open air theatre.
The Regional Consultant of the Architectural Engineering Services Limited (AESL), Eric Annan, told journalists during an inspection of the project on Tuesday that 60 per cent of the work had been done, adding that what remained was the external works and pavements.
The Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Andrew Egyapa Mercer, who had been instrumental in the revival of the theatre complex confirmed that, the contractor, Attachy Construction Ltd, had received certificates worth GH¢45 million from the Ministry of Finance, and that work was progressing.
He expressed joy that the Finance Ministry agreed to provide Government of Ghana (GOG) funding to help complete the CNC project, assuring that what remained would be the polishing of the floors and the exterior works.
Mr Mercer explained that Central Tender Review Board conducted an integrity test before the project was approved for funding.
The Deputy Minister, Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mark Okraku Mantey, applauded the role of Mr Mercer in the resumption of the CNC theatre complex, which he described as a “beautiful project” to renew hope in the industry.
The government, he said, was passionate about the arts industry and assured that the amphitheatre project would be completed.
Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Tourism Authority, Akwasi Agyeman, also recalled that four years ago, a team visited the CNC theatre complex at Fijai to assess the project, and was happy about the resumption of work.
He stated that the CNC theatre was a huge project, noting that with the courage of Mr Mercer and foresight of the government, it would be completed.
Mr Agyeman mentioned that meetings, exhibitions and conferences were now a vital source of revenue and that investment in such infrastructure would enhance tourism, food and hotel industry and could fetch veritable forex for Ghana’s economy and the Western Region.
FROM CLEMENT ADZEI
BOYE, FIJAI