Hot SourceGhana’s theatre community is mourning the death of Dr Mohammed ben Abdallah, the celebrated playwright and cultural visionary, who passed away in Accra on Thursday, 18 September 2025. He was 81.
His daughter, Dr Akosua Abdallah, confirmed the news, noting that funeral rites will be held in Kumasi after Friday Jumu’ah prayers, with a three-day Dua to follow. A memorial in Accra is expected to be announced soon.
Born on 25 April 1944 in Kumasi, Abdallah became a defining voice in Ghanaian theatre. After studies at Wesley College and the University of Ghana, he earned advanced theatre degrees in the United States and later served as Head of the School of Performing Arts at the University of Ghana.
He was instrumental in the creation of the National Theatre of Ghana, helping design its structure and resident companies. His plays celebrated for weaving African oral tradition with modern drama remain classics of post-colonial storytelling.
Tributes from colleagues describe him as a mentor and nation-builder whose influence stretched across generations. Professor Kofi Anyidoho called him “a visionary who turned theatre into a mirror of society and a tool for development.”
Dr Mohammed ben Abdallah’s passing leaves a profound void, but his work ensures that Ghana’s stage will continue to echo with his voice for years to come.
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