Clemento Suarez, a comedian from Ghana, has urged President Akufo-Addo to keep the NPP's election pledge to build regional theatres around the nation.
The comedian reaffirmed the worries that one of the issues impeding the expansion of the sector is the lack of theatres in the regions, particularly when it comes to obtaining locations for film premieres and stage performances.
When he spoke with Graphic Showbiz, Clemento Suarez issued a trumpet call on the issue of how the lack of theatres in the rural areas is harming the creative business.
He said it was a huge relief when the current administration's NPP pledged in their 2016 platform to develop regional theatres, but little has been done to that point. "The President pledged to construct regional theatres in both the NPP's 2016 and 2020 manifestos, but to date no show, Mr. President we are waiting," he stated.
According to research done by Graphic Showbiz, Mark Okraku Mantey, the deputy minister of tourism, arts, and culture, declared in November 2021 that the Ashanti Regional Theatre and Eastern Regional Theatre will both be finished by the end of 2022.
Aside from that, Clemento Suarez discussed the state of comedy in the nation generally, saying that "from 2019 to date, we have climbed 30% higher, and we are continuing growing."
He clarified that public backing will assure the development of comedy in the nation.
When discussing his professional career, Clemento Suarez cited winning the 2020 Emmy Award for Entertainment Man of the Year as one of his biggest accomplishments. I was thrilled to win since I was in the same category as Sarkodie and Stonebwoy.
My ability to open the door for my juniors to pursue careers in stage acting and comedy has been my greatest accomplishment, aside from winning accolades. I get fulfilment from making others happy, not only by making them laugh, he remarked.
Regarding his approach to his job as a comic, Clemento Suarez claimed he thought about the effect his actions would have on others.
"I consider the message I'm conveying, the effect it will have on the audience, and how applicable it may be to actual circumstances. I just go ahead and deliver once I'm persuaded," he remarked.
For Clemento Suarez's benefit, none of his performances have received severe criticism, unlike some of his teammates.
"I only had a tiny problem while I was a student at the University of Ghana. Back then, I used to perform stand-up comedy, and a lecturer wanted me to be in a play. When I declined, he launched a battle against me, but it didn't have any impact on me.
The comedian said that he had an ideology that directs him when asked how he would respond to heckling if it were to come his way.
"I have the belief that those that criticise you are professionals who are far more knowledgeable about industry issues than you are, therefore I don't mind if they criticise me. I consider their remarks to be constructive.