CNC leadership pleads with govt to reconsider relocating them to pave way for Marine Drive construction
The leadership of the Center for National Culture (CNC) popularly known as the Accra Art Centerhas called on government to consider the cultural and national interest of the country in its decision to relocate them for the construction of the Marine Drive Project.
Their call followed an ultimatum given to traders at the Accra Art Center to relocate to the Ghana House on the Accra High Street by January 30,to pave way for the construction of the Marine Drive Project.
The Projectwhich is a 241-acre redevelopment scheme of Accra’s waterfront is an initiative of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
It is a Public-Private Partnership project estimated to cost about $1.2 billion and is funded by the World Bank.
The project is expected to transform the beachfront stretch from the Osu Christiansborg Castle to the Arts Centre into a vibrant business and commercial enclave that would transform the city’s skyline, create jobs, spur tourism growth and boost the national economy.
At a news conference in Accra on Thursday, the Chairman of the CNC, Mr Isaac Mensah said they were not against government decision to establish the Marine Drive Project but the destruction that would bring uponthe tourism industry and the heritage of the country.
He said the demolition of the facility would hamper the growth and nurture of talents in the Arts and Cultural sector since it had produced finest artists in the industry over the past years.
Mr Mensah added thatrelocating to the Ghana House would also not serve the purpose of the Arts Centre since up and coming artists such as poets, stage actors and visual artists who use the centre would lose the opportunity.
“The Ghana House is not big enough to accommodate the various activities held at the Arts Centre. This will have effect on our production and hinder the tourism industry,” he added.
He stated that, there was no broader consultation between the government and stakeholders in the sector as it would have a negative impact on academic studies and research work.
He called on the government to reconsider its decision and allow them to operate since that was the only livelihood of some of the traders.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Korle Klottey Constituency, DrZanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, who gave her full support assured the traders to fight to retain the Art Centre.
“When tourist come to the country this is a part of their tour since the center speaks of the country, we want to add more value and improve the centre than tear it down”.
“The government cannot employ all the youth, so if these people have got work they do to survive why move them to an inconvenient place. They are looking for sustainability and continuity not compensation and loss of livelihoods” she added.
Dr Rawlings said “looking at the bad roads and the heavy traffic in the area, moving the artisans to a different location would not help. By now the government should have educated them on how to sell their products online since we are in a digitisation world now”.
She, therefore, pleaded with the government to halt the relocation exercise and also engage stakeholders in a broader consultation.
BY VIVIAN ARTHUR AND ANITA ANKRAH
