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, as well as boost the economy 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.
Addressing the media after inspecting the extent of work so far, Dr Bawumia added that when completed, the Convention Centre will be a game changer for the tourism and creative art industry
“For a very long time, governments after governments have not been able to execute this particular project,” Dr Bawumia said.
“It is a very much-needed project because we believe that some of the key pillars for the growth of this economy lie in tourism and the creative arts. But you don’t just become a tourism or creative art hub by saying so, you must have the necessary infrastructure to support the growth industry,” he added.
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.”
“Ghana will be in a good position with this sort of exhibition centre which is 20,000 capacity, that is almost 10 times the capacity we have now. That opens a whole new avenue for the creative arts and tourism sector for exhibition and for hosting conventions and conferences, which is a big market for doing so.”
“Ghana is a very attractive destination and we are going to be in a position with the Afcta also here, there is going to be that synergy with hosting the Afcta Secretariat here, there is going to be a lot of trade issues and a lot of conferences are going to be held here.”
“We see Ghana as a real centre for many conferences, for many exhibitions for many creative arts shows and so on.
We already have the December in Ghana, Beyond the Return and so on. We will see so many opportunities that will help grow this economy and so we are very, very excited.”
While commending the workers for a good job done, Dr. Bawumia also expressed belief that he will return as President in September, to commission the ultra-modern centre.
“I’m very impressed and I want to thank the contractor, the management and the workers for what you have done. The work is very advanced. You look at this and you see the shelves and all the amenities have been provided; the roads, the fibre, the water, the electricity and so what they are telling us is that in the next 8 months, this project will be completed and we are going to hold them to it.”
“And I’m hoping that by the grace of God, I will come and commission it in September.”
Dr Bawumia described the big project as a demonstration of what a collaboration between the government and the private sector can do, adding that it is in line with his vision of allowing the private sector to partner government to deliver the infrastructure needs of the country.
