Accra, June 22, GNA—The National Theatre of Ghana (NTG) and the Methodist Church, Ghana are partnering to groom the youth in performing arts.
The partnership will also offer the youth guidance on how to properly use their talents for national development and as a tool for evangelism.
The performing arts is a collective term for arts performed in front of an audience. They primarily focus on dance, drama, music and theatre.
The collaboration would also create an avenue for the NTG to champion its activities to improve their visibility in the country.
Consequently, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by both parties to formalize their partnership and officially launch the Youth Development Programme in Accra.
Most Reverend Dr Paul Kwabena Boafo, Presiding Bishop, Methodist Church, Ghana said the various training programmes that would be facilitated by the NTG would equip the youth to remain relevant both in church and country.
He said the programmes would also instill discipline and give the youth a sense of direction in life.
The Presiding Bishop said for those who would end up gaining expertise in any of the arts, was sure to attain employment.
He therefore encouraged the youth both within and outside the Methodist Church, Ghana to avail themselves of such opportunities to secure their future.
Most Rev Boafo noted that culture and tradition had a place in the Church and could be used as a tools to win souls for Christ.
“If somebody says that culture and tradition have no place in the church, then the person does not live. This is because we do not lose our identify when we become Christians. We do not lose who we are because culture is all encompassing. It is everything that makes us. Some people think culture is just dancing. The way we eat, dress, and organise ourselves, is culture. Christianity should only refine the culture for use,” he added.
In a speech read on his behalf, Nana Fredua-Ageyman Ofori-Atta, Board Chairman, NTG, said the uprightness of humans was managed by the discipline and principles they chose to live by.
He said to achieve this, the performing arts offered good support services to the Christian or the religious agenda.
“The performing arts is known to demand commitment, discipline, and a deep reliance on its tenets to succeed. Once you indulge in one form or the other of the performing arts and you stick to the principles that guide their mastery you become good at what you choose, be it music, dance, or drama,” he said.
He said the Theatre also taught and shared information on one’s culture, which was important in generating and sustaining the Ghanaian mosaic.
“We are a collection of peoples with various ways of doing things. These must be respected by all. To be respected we must share and teach each other patiently and with understanding. The Performing Arts serves that purpose.”
“We believe that in the same vein as culture is taught and respected in Christianity for Jesus did suggest that we ‘give unto Caesar what is his’ – its appreciation affords Christianity access to reaching more souls. This confirms the strength of this partnership being formalized today. So clearly the missions of both church and Theatre share an interest.”
He said the training of the youth in the Methodist Church, Ghana by the NTG would offer the youth a large spectrum of opportunities in life socially and professionally, adding that, their success, through this joint venture, would impact not only their church but society.
The Board Chairman said NTG’s role as an institution was to unearth, develop and promote talents in the performing arts which included music, dance, drama, poetry, and other skills.
“Other talents and skills, including time management, events organization, human relations, the knowledge of a variety of instruments, the reading and writing of music and composition and conducting, the knowledge of various dance genres, the nuances of acting, directing and production management will all be a result of this initiative,” he said.
GNA