President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has cut the sod for the construction of a Creative Arts Senior High School to be located in Kwadaso in the Ashanti Region.

Cutting the sod on Sunday, 1 December 2019, Nana Akufo-Addo stated that: “We reaffirm our commitment to the growth of the creative arts industry by cutting the sod for the construction of the very first Senior High School in Ghana dedicated solely to the industry.”

He added: “There could be no more fitting place for the siting of the first of many of such edifices than the ancient, vibrant city of Kumasi, famed for its rich pedigree of culture, music, dance, folklore and drama.”

The government, President Akufo-Addo stressed, intends to construct more of such schools across the country so that young people, from every nook and cranny, can gain access to this kind of specialised education to improve and hone their skills in the creative arts.

“I have every confidence that this school will serve as an important beacon for many young and talented people, seeking a fulfilling career in the creative arts,” he said.

He urged leaders in the industry to make themselves available to provide guidance and inspiration to the new school, “as it takes its initial steps in order to ensure that a legacy of excellence is passed on to the younger generation within a clear and solid framework”.

The governing New Patriotic Party pledged to promote, at the regional and district levels, literature, music, dance and drama competitions, particularly in schools and colleges; establish a Creative Arts Fund to provide funding to modernise and develop the sector; and also establish a Creative Arts Council to co-ordinate and harmonise the various interests and fragmented associations of the sector into a well-functioning body to protect the interests of its members.

Toward the realisation of this, the Creative Arts Industry Bill has been presented to Cabinet for consideration, and, once passed by Parliament, the Act will establish the creative arts fund and an agency to promote the industry, and help the government create an enabling environment through which direct and indirect support for practitioners and the industry can be channelled.

J.A Kufuor SHS

Earlier in the day, President Akufo-Addo cut the sod for the construction of a state-of-the-art Senior High and Technical School named after the 2nd President of the 4th Republic, Mr John Agyekum Kufuor.

With the school set to be completed in ten months, the President commended the Ministry of Education for constructing and naming the school after Mr Kufuor in his hometown of Dabaa.

The government, he explained, recognises that science, technology and technical skills rule industry, and one rules him or herself out, if they are not appropriately equipped.

“Every child must be offered the opportunity to bring out her inherent talents for innovation. It is in the laboratories and workshops that young people get the opportunity to expand their imagination, and develop the skills that would equip them for the modern world. We need to modernise all aspects of our lives, and we need skilled people to lead the modernisation process,” President Akufo-Addo added.

The President told the gathering that the government, through the Education Ministry and in collaboration with AMATROL, is equipping the country’s Technical Institutes, Technical Universities and Colleges of Education that specialise in TVET.

“Additionally, 20 state-of-the-art TVET centres, like the one to be constructed here at Dabaa, are being established across the country to make Ghana a world-class centre for skills development, and a leading country in TVET delivery in Africa. We want to emphasise the importance of TVET, and eliminate the misconception that technical and vocational education is inferior and patronised only by less endowed students,” he added.