By Alex Ababio and Sam Arthur
The Otumfuo Asenehene , Nana Yaw Akuoko has prevailed upon the New Patriotic Party Government to give priority attention to the use of made in Ghana goods , particular fabrics and artifacts to boost Ghana’s Economy.
Nana Yaw Akuo was of the view that governments had over the years made some initiatives ,yet there was the need to intensify its strategies and campaign to officially make the use of made in Ghana goods agenda a reality .
” Government over the years have been doing its bits to inspire confidence and free will among the citizenry to patronise our local goods, yet it has to do more since declaring wearing of local fabrics as official dressing itsn’t too difficult for government to do .”
Nana Yaw Akuoko made this statement when he was speaking to a section of journalists on the sideline of launching of this year’s Arts and Culture Exhibition at Centre for National Culture in Kumasi .
The exhibition which started from 22 June, 2022 on the theme : Working Together,Bouncing Back Better -The Role of Art and Culture is expected to end on 5th August 2022.
Nana Yaw Akuo encouraged all and sundry to patronise made in Ghana goods to give meaning to homegrown policies and localisation agenda by the Government.
” Home grown policies, localisation and free industries should start from supporting indigenous goods. This is how some countries have been able to develop with it. If we start ours today and the government officials give backing to it , it will go a long way to help our economy to grow .”
” We should begin to dress in local manufactured fabrics for our weddings and naming ceremonies to boost market for our local goods .” ,he stressed
The Ashanti Regional Director of the Centre for National Culture Kumasi , Mr Emmanuel Ansu encouraged government to give more grant to the local artisans and appealed to the commercial banks to give credit with low interest rates to enable these artisans to produce quality but less expensive goods in order to boost patronage of these local goods .
He explained why local goods are most at times expensive on the market .
” Its because the producers don’t get easy funding and the needed credits from the banks to do their work. And for that matter when they produce with little funds that they have , they inturn have to increase the price for profit.
” So i will like to encourage the Government to give them grant and loans for them to establish their businesses, so that they can produce more . And when they produce more the cost will come down and eventually get people to buy at a lower price .”
Mr Emmanuel Ansu reminded the artisans to look for various available grants to expand their businesses.
” The Ministry of Culture and Creative Arts have a certain grant that they give to the artisans , so they can access. When they come to Kumasi Cultural Centre, we can introduce them to those grants and access them to help them produce more to ensure prices of their goods are brought down to enable people patronise them.”, he hinted
The Deputy Director of the Centre for National Culture, Kumasi Mustapha Isaah shared more light on the exhibition and explained what the centre was doing to promote the works of the artisans.
” This exhibition has been happening for more than twenty years and it’s an annual ritual that we do .These artisans produce quality goods but where to market them becomes a challenge. So, this is the platform where they market their products. Since this place is a Cultural center and we have professionals in some of these areas ,we also give them training through workshops. We normally do workshop before the exhibition itself.
Mr Mustapha Isaah indicated that the exhibition was not only organised for Ghanaians but other nationals too showcase their products.
” This exhibition is not just for only Ashanti region .We have artisans coming all the way from outside Ghana. We have some from Baukina Faso , Mali and Nigeria and it’s becoming a West Africa thing now. As we promote Ghana we promote Africa in General.”, he noted