The much awaited “Ghana Must Go”, a stage play to promote the Ghanaian culture through storytelling was premiered at the Accra International Conference Centre on Friday with hundreds of entertainment lovers thrilled to an evening of fun and excitement.
The play, which featured captivating performances and musical interludes, thrilled the audience and highlighted the power of theatre as a tool for cultural expression and national development.
Written by Latif Abubakar, a renowned playwright, the stage play, which was expected to be showcased globally, served as a powerful expression of Ghanaian identity and a catalyst for economic gains through the arts.
When The Ghanaian Times got to the AICC at 3 p.m., it observed that some individuals and groups who had come to watch the premiering of the stage play were already present despite it starting at 4 p.m., signifying the high level of interest among Ghanaians ahead of the event.
The paper also observed that the individuals had formed a long queue as they waited patiently to go through the ticket checking process to be able to have access to the auditorium of the AICC, where the premiering of the stage play was taking place.
During the premiering, the audience were kept glued to their seats as they watched the cast deliver some spectacular performances to communicate and present the rich Ghanaian cultural values and identity amid musical interludes.
The performance by the cast on the stage was received with some applause by the audience.
Speaking to journalists after the premiering of the stage play, Mr Abubakar said he was not surprised by the massive attendance recorded at the premiering of the stage play.
This, he said, was because those who had bought tickets to watch the premiering of the stage play were assured of consistency, a good storyline, and entertainment.
Mr Abubakar said that although he was excited about the growth of the theatre industry, there was a lot more that could be done to improve the industry.
“The Ghanaian audience psyche about theatre is still very low, and we hope that with your support as media, we will be able to trumpet the successes and importance of theatre to society and let people understand that it is one of the best mediums of entertainment, especially family entertainment,” Mr Abubakar emphasised.
“We need to be able to tell our stories. We need to find a creative way of attracting tourists and investors into our country, and I feel theatre will do the magic,” he added.
For his part, Mr Adjetey Annan, one of the cast in the stage play, emphasised the need for collaboration between players in the creative arts industry in promoting the cultural values and identity of Ghanaians through storytelling.
Sharing her opinion with The Ghanaian Times, Ms Gloria Asiedu, a student, said the stage play was a true reflection of the Ghanaian cultural heritage and tradition, and therefore called for such more stage plays going forward.
Also, Mr George Yeboah, a civil servant, commended Mr Abubakar and the entire production team for such a “masterpiece”, adding that it would help promote Ghana on the global stage.
BY EUGENE AMPIAW
