The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture has revealed that the new Creative Arts Centre will be ready for use by end of December, 2021.

Government took the decision to demolish the old centre to pave way for the Marine Drive Project which seeks to establish an iconic skyline for Accra and transform the capital city’s centre into a world-class tourism enclave.

Speaking to Andy Dosty on Day Break Hitz, on Thursday, the Deputy Tourism Minister, Mark Okraku Mantey, stated that the new Arts Centre is 90 per cent complete, thus will soon be operational.

"It’s supposed to house 700 entrepreneurs but for now, phase one has 488 rooms ready, which is almost 90% done. According to the project manager, it should be ready by end of December [2021]," he said.

He touted the new Arts Centre as one of the projects being championed by the current administration to give the sector a facelift.

Mr Mantey added that the Ministry is in the process of putting a Board and a Legislative Instrument (L. I.) in place to make the Creative Arts Agency effective.

"We promised the Creative Arts Fund in 2016, so, when the Agency begins to operate, the President of the land will inaugurate the Creative Arts Fund; so, creative arts people can benefit and go for support to create and compete."

He reiterated that the Akufo-Addo-led administration will deliver its promise of constructing an ultra-modern studio for the industry.

Mark Okraku Mantey, however, indicated that they are still in the process of looking for funds and a place to put up the structure.

"We’re going to modernise the W. E. B. Du Bois centre in the next few weeks. It’s a deal signed by the Du Bois Foundation in America. The President was in America to be part of the deal. It’s old so we want to give it a facelift."