University Of Ghana Theatre Arts Advocates Call for Greater Investment In Creative Sector On International Youth Day

Angela Kuffour
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University Of Ghana Theatre Arts Advocates Call for Greater Investment In Creative Sector On International Youth Day
International Youth Day
University of Ghana Theatre Arts Advocates Call for Greater Investment in Creative Sector on International Youth Day

In a special International Youth Day broadcast on 3Music TV, educators and young creatives from the University of Ghana’s Department of Theatre Arts made a passionate plea to redefine the narrative surrounding performing arts education in Ghana.

The delegates highlights its economic potential and demanding rigorous training for the next generation of talent.

For years, tertiary study in the creative and performing arts has faced public skepticism in Ghana, often dismissively labeled as "dondology" or viewed as a fallback option for students who failed to gain entry into science or business programs.

However, during the broadcast, department lecturers and students emphasized that perceptions are shifting dramatically. Driven by a growing creative economy and digital platforms like TikTok, young Ghanaians are recognizing the immense value of formal artistic training.

"When students first arrive, nearly all of them feel frustrated because they were placed in theatre arts based on cutoff points. But by the end of the semester, after experiencing drama in education and practical performance, every single hand comes down. They fall in love with the craft."

The panel noted that high-performing students with aggregate scores as high as 10 and 12 are now actively selecting the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) program as their top choice. In an extraordinary turn, graduates from non-arts backgrounds—including Biomedical Engineering—are enrolling in undergraduate theatre courses to build creative discipline and foundational skills.

Clement, known by his stage name WiseB; a teaching assistant, musician, and former Mentor X finalist, highlighted that performing arts require an intense level of commitment that rivals traditional academic disciplines.

From memorizing dense 20-page scripts to attending mandatory physical conditioning and dance rehearsals starting at 5:30 AM, student actors undergo rigorous daily training designed to build professional stamina.

Industry figures such as George Quaye, Clemento Suarez, and Fiifi Coleman were praised for demonstrating that theatre can fill auditoriums and remain commercially viable.

To address foundational gaps in secondary education, the department announced plans to launch short-term training courses starting in November.

The workshops will equip High School teachers instructing the new Performing Arts curriculum with practical methodologies for script analysis, poetry, and stage direction.

With growing international exposure and shifting public appreciation, representatives from the University of Ghana reiterated that empowering young creatives is essential to positioning Ghana's creative industry as a primary economic driver across Africa.

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