0
0 The Accra International Conference Centre was set ablaze with laughter, nostalgia, and national pride over the weekend as Latif Abubakar’s much-anticipated stage play, Ghana Must Go: The Promiseland, delivered a spectacular theatrical experience that packed the auditorium for four back-to-back shows.
Presented as the headline performance to mark the 15th anniversary of Globe Productions, Ghana Must Go: The Promisland lived up to its billing and beyond, attracting over 7,500 patrons across two days and reaffirming theatre’s power not just to entertain, but to sell Ghana to the world.
The five-character play, rich with humour, heart, and cultural resonance, tells the story of a group of friends weary of life abroad who return home to Ghana, unsure of what awaits them. What unfolds is a brilliant mix of comedy, reflection, and rediscovery, one that deeply resonated with audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
PACKED HOUSES, STANDING OVATIONS
Each of the four shows, two each day at 4pm and 8pm, was met with sold-out crowds, enthusiastic applause, and standing ovations. The audience included top business executives, government officials, diplomats, the creative community, and hundreds of returnees and diasporans, many of whom saw their own stories reflected on stage.
“This was not just a play. It was an emotional homecoming,” one patron remarked after the final show. “It reminded me why Ghana is worth coming back to, and investing in.”
THEATRE AS AN ECONOMIC TOOL
Beyond its theatrical brilliance, Ghana Must Go is also the flagship of The Big Push Ghana, an innovative initiative that reimagines theatre as a strategic tool for economic diplomacy. As Ghana positions itself to attract more foreign direct investment and tourism, the play offers an unconventional but effective approach: leading with art, culture, and storytelling to open doors for trade and engagement.
“We’ve proven with this production that a powerful story, well told, can inspire confidence, interest, and action. Ghana Must Go is not just entertainment, it is an investment in Ghana’s image,” said playwright and producer Latif Abubakar.
READY FOR THE WORLD STAGE
With its successful Accra premiere, Ghana Must Go is now set to embark on a 10-nation global tour, with performances scheduled in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Japan, South Africa, Nigeria, the US, UK, Canada, and China.
Each international stop will include a theatrical performance on Day One, followed by an Investment and Tourism Expo on Day Two, a format that is expected to attract over 2,000 potential investors and tourists in each city.
“This model is non-traditional, but that is exactly its strength,” said a representative from the Ministry of Tourism. “It’s Ghana telling its own story, creatively, proudly, and with a human touch that no brochure or PowerPoint can replicate.”
THE BEGINNING OF A BOLDER MOVEMENT
As the curtains fell in Accra to thunderous applause, one thing became clear: Ghana Must Go has not only entertained, it has inspired. It has become the heartbeat of a movement, one that blends the arts with economics, and heritage with hope.
From the packed auditoriums to the laughter and tears of thousands, Globe Productions in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have set a new benchmark for Ghanaian theatre, and a new model for national promotion.
Let the world come. But first, Ghana must go.
