The Accra International Conference Center is perhaps the most popular venue in Accra where large events are held.
Other venues include the Ghana Trade Fair and the National Theatre, but the Conference Center is more popular due to it being significantly larger than the National Theatre, and at the same time smaller than the Ghana Trade Fair Centre (which was built to host pan-African events).
It is located in the Christiansborg area in Accra and is close to a number of important locations, such as the Parliament of Ghana, the Accra Sports Stadium, the Independence Arch and the Black Star Square.
That international business can only be attracted with the right infrastructure in place, has long been acknowledged by the Government of Ghana. Hence the importance of the Accra International Conference Centre.
Situated in Ghana’s capital, with ready access to Kotoka Airport and first-class hotels, the multi-purpose conference centre has a 6,000-person capacity.
Of six conference halls, the main seats 1,600 people; there are also two committee halls accommodating 205 persons each and three meeting halls (each accommodating approximately 50 delegates).
In addition, a press centre keeps delegates in touch, both for transmission of conference news and reception of information; this plus audio facilities for simultaneous translation in five languages.
The Accra International Conference Centre was built in 1991 to host the Tenth Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement. It has since hosted major conferences and summits by U.N. organisations, such as the World Health Organisation, the Food and Agriculture Organisation, as well as regional organisations such as ECOWAS.
For large-scale conferences, seminars, business meetings and prestigious social events, there is no finer venue than the Accra International Conference Centre is a centre of attention for everyone doing business in West Africa.
The cultural sector in Ghana is extremely rich. It is to propel this culture into the 21st century that the National Theatre of Ghana was Commissioned by the Government of Ghana and built by the Chinese in 1992.
The Theatre is governed by the National Theatre law 1991, PNDC Law 259. Among others, the law describes the setting up of Theatres in such parts of the country as the government sees it.
The Theatre has made improvements in its operations, audience development, programming, marketing and fundraising.
* Staff members are being trained constantly within the Theatre as well as in other Theatres worldwide, e.g. South Africa, Europe and the USA.
* Artistes, Producers, Technicians and marketing Agents have been invited from Theatres in South Africa, Europe, USA and Australia on exchange programmes.
* Major festivals and programmes presented in collaboration with national and international communities and institutions, all of which included workshop for artists, art professionals and teachers in the use of the arts in teaching classroom subjects and entertainment purposes have been created and instituted over the past few years. These will revolutionise the entertainment and educational system once its implementation becomes integrated into the cultural and educational policy. It is expected that this will change the publics awareness and behaviour towards the arts. A few programmes and projects developed include:
- Dance Factory
- African Youth Orchestra (IndigenAfrika)
- Concert Party (Traditional Drama)
- Direct Consumer Contact (Drama)
- Fun World (Variety Programme)
- Theatre Programme for Schools (Drama for School Children)
- Arts Institute for Teachers
- Septemberfest (festival of Arts Adults)
- Kiddafest (festival for Children)
- Living Legends (Achievement recognition)
The Theatre has computerised all departments in order to strengthen its internal and external operations and linkages.
The Theatre employs about 95 people, 10% of whom are paid through the Theatres own resources
The Theatre has an annual operational budget of 1.4 billion cedis. It must be noted that 39% of the National Theatres funding comes from government and 61% from venue rentals, investments, sponsorships and gate proceeds.