GHANA can boast of possessing one of the largest and most beautiful theatre buildings on the African continent.

Besides this, she can also boast of having produced a great number of renowned dramatists, musicians and dancers like Asiedu Yirenkyi, Martin Owusu, Mohammed Abdallah, Kwabena Nketia, Nii Yartey etc. who have contributed tremendously in their various fields to bring honour to the country.

With this high background of creative artists and their great achievements for the country, one will expect that the emergence of operation of professional theatre companies in the country in recent times will certainly complement the achievements of this country on both the local and international theatrical scenes, and consequently, become a model for African countries to follow.

Alas! This high expectation has not been met yet by the present array of professional theatre companies operating in the country like the National Drama Company, the National Dance Company, Ghana Dance Ensemble, Abibigromma etc.

This unpleasant state of affairs is so because of a number of negative factors militating against the efficient operation of these professional theatre companies.

A critical analysis and evaluation of the performance of professional theatre companies we have in the country today shows that there is no efficient management structure that has been developed for most of them.

There is also evidence that only a few members of most of these professional theatre companies have adequate professional training to meet their tasks as professionals.

In addition, there is also lack of adequate financial support, logistics etc. to make the professional theatre companies well established and efficient in their operation.

Remuneration for the members of these professional theatre companies is very low, and this does not augur well for their motivation and commitment as professionals.

The last but not the least factor accounting for the dismal performance of these professional theatre companies is the absence of a keen competitive spirit among them with the view of achieving excellence.

These shortcomings and lapses have contributed negatively to make the operation of professional theatre companies in the country less efficient and lack of making any significant impact on both the local and international theatrical scenes since their emergence in the country.

Thus, they cannot be compared favourably with other professional theatre companies on the African continent let alone on the world scene at large!

I think this sad state of affairs in the operation of professional theatre companies in the country today is a blight on the image of Ghana as the touch bearer and forerunner in African affairs, which of course includes the African experience in theatre development.

In order to reverse this unpleasant situation and to make Ghanaian professional theatre companies highly efficient and a model for adoption by other African countries, I will like to make the following suggestions:

1. The Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture should, as a matter of urgency, create a special division within its outfit to become solely responsible for all professional theatre companies operating in the country.

2. The Division should develop an effective machinery or system that will cater for the interests of theatre companies in the country.

3. The Division should be able to create the appropriate infrastructure for the efficient operation of theatre companies with the provision of adequate financial and logistics support.

4. The Division should periodically assess and evaluate the modus operandi of theatre companies in the country in order to keep them abreast with modern trends.

5. The Division should assist the theatre companies in diverse ways such as offering financial support for the training of members of the companies locally and overseas.

6. The Division should also organise workshops and also annual competitions among theatre companies operating in the country, which should attract handsome cash awards for winners and also their being dubbed: "Professional theatre companies of the year."

I have the conviction that if the suggestions I have advanced here are taken, a new chapter will be opened in the life of professional theatre companies operating in the country today to make them rise from their present state of doldrums to become highly efficient and consequently assert Ghana’s image in the operation of professional theatre companies on the African theatrical scene and the world scene at large.

The writer is a Theatre critic.