20-YEAR-OLD CULTURAL COMPLEX UNCOMPLETED (PAGE 20)

A REGIONAL cultural centre complex started in the Western Region about 20 years ago is yet to be completed for the promotion of cultural activities in the region.
The centre, being financed by the government through the National Commission on Culture, comprises a closed theatre/auditorium, crafts village, artists’ hostel, administration block and sociological garden.
The centre also has facilities like research library/museum, an open air theatre, a car park and durbar grounds.
The Western Regional Director of the Centre for National Culture (CNC), Mr Ben Anaba, briefed heads of departments meeting at the Regional Co-ordinating Council in Sekondi on the status of work on the project.
He said outstanding works on the project included the polishing of terrazzo flooring, mending of some leakages, excavation of drainage to check flooding, external works including terracing and landscaping provision of spot lights and a car park, and furniture for the auditorium.
Mr Anaba said the CNC was a member of a programme management unit for the rehabilitation of Fort Appolonia at Axim in the Nzema East Municipality in the Western Region.
He explained that the project, which was funded by the Italian government, was to promote the culture of the Nzema people and the provision of a crafts market, using the rehabilitated fort as a training centre, as well as an outlet for the sale of crafts.
The regional director said nine people and institutions from the region had benefited from a Cultural Initiative Support Programme (CISP).
He stated that the CISP was a European Union-supported programme with grants for the promotion of the cultural heritage, including festivals, traditional medicine, folklore and documentation of cultural elements, performing arts, fine art and craft, film and audio/visual language and literary arts, comprising poetry, short stories, traditional and oral literature.
Mr Anaba said the centre received a grant of GH¢7,000 from the CISP to provide living skills for street hawkers in the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis.