Accra, Ghana — The National Theatre of Ghana stands as one of Accra’s most distinctive landmarks.
Built in the early 1990s through a bilateral agreement signed in 1989, the theater was financed and constructed by Chinese workers as a gesture of friendship between the two nations.
The debt was later forgiven, turning the project into an outright gift. When it opened in 1992, it represented not only architectural ambition but also Ghana’s aspirations for a vibrant national performing arts scene.
Inside, the main auditorium once gleamed with state-of-the-art acoustics and staging, hosting traditional dance troupes, contemporary plays, concerts, and international performances.
Yet over the years, the building has suffered from chronic underfunding and poor upkeep, a stark illustration of broader challenges in maintaining public infrastructure in Ghana.
In 2021, acclaimed playwright Chief Moomen called for the venue to be temporarily shut down to allow for thorough rehabilitation, highlighting the urgency of addressing longstanding issues.
In 2023, workers staged protests, accusing management of financial mismanagement and failing to address deteriorating facilities.
They claimed that leaking roofs, faulty air-conditioning, outdated technical equipment, and general decay had reduced the once-prestigious venue to a shadow of its former self.
Some experts even suggested the structure might need to be demolished and rebuilt entirely.
Now, more than 30 years after China first delivered the theater, Beijing is stepping in once again to help.
Repeated Promises and Alleged Mismanagement
The theater’s decline has not gone unnoticed, prompting a series of renovation promises over the years.
In March 2005, there was a ceremony for the commencement of work for the rehabilitation, refurbishment, and renovation of the National Theatre.
In 2023, a staff group at the Theatre is calling for the immediate removal of the Executive Director, Emmy Frimpong. They alleged issues of mismanagement and a lack of worker promotions that have persisted for the past 12 years.
China To The Rescue
In July, the newly elected Mahama government announced plans for a major facelift. This was followed in November by the inclusion of rehabilitation funds in the 2026 budget statement, delivered by Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson, who outlined intentions to modernize the Accra facility alongside plans for a new national theater in Kumasi.
Yet it was China — the original benefactor — that provided the decisive boost.
In December 2025, following a visit by a high-level Chinese delegation to assess the site, Beijing committed $30 million for a comprehensive renovation — the first major overhaul since the building’s completion.
The project will modernize technical systems, upgrade air-conditioning, improve safety features like CCTV, and restore the facility to contemporary standards.
The leader of the Chinese delegation, Mr Li Yaohong, stated in the meeting that he would send a technical team to Ghana to review more details.
Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, expressed her excitement about the development.
“We are counting on strong collaboration with the government and people of China, and we expect that in a very short time this renovation will see the light of day,” she said.
This article was edited with AI and reviewed by human editors
