The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has said that the ongoing construction of an ultra-modern, 20,000-seater Ghana Trade Fair Convention Centre, will significantly transform the tourism and creative arts sector when completed.
The Convention Centre, which is expected to be completed in September next year, will be Ghana’s main entertainment centre, as well as a centre for conferences, exhibitions and conventions.
In a Facebook post on November 25 after paying a working visit to the Trade Fair Centre, Dr Bawumia added that when completed will “strengthen Ghana’s position as an attractive destination for conferences, conventions and exhibitions.”
Dr. Bawumia expressed satisfaction at the work done so far and hopes to commission the project in September next year if he wins the elections.
“I was very impressed by the extent of work, and with firm assurances by the contractors to complete it in eight months, I look forward to commissioning this project in September, by the grace of God.”
Speaking to the media after inspecting the project, Dr Bawumia said Ghana’s biggest centre for entertainment could take up to 3000 people, which he said is too small to support the growth of the creative art sector.
“When you look at Ghana today, the largest auditorium that people tend to pay to play in is less than 3000. So if an artist has to play and the capacity is 3000 people, they have to charge much higher prices to make up their cost so you tend to see the cost of shows being higher and that doesn’t bring up the the demand because the cost is high and therefore they don’t make the requisite revenues or profits for their businesses.”
