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01.09.2008 General News

Government Commended For Making Ghana Conference Destination

01.09.2008 LISTEN
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Mrs Joyce Ankrah, a fashion designer and Chief Executive Officer of Into Clothing Ghana Limited has commended the Government of Ghana for its efforts at making Ghana a conference destination.

She said the choice of Ghana as a conference destination was in the right step to market the nation's art and craft works and to promote tourism in general.

Mrs Ankrah told the Ghana News Agency in Accra, after an eight-day exhibition of traditional art and craft works alongside the Accra conference on climate change that the nation stood to accrue enormous benefits from re-invigorating the arts and crafts industry.

She however said industry operators would appreciate further support from Government to market their products.

In a background of traditional Ghanaian music and traditional cultural dancing by Blema Tesaa Band at the Forecourt of the State House, where the exhibition was held, Mrs Ankrah commended the organisers of the Climate Change conference for allowing the staging of the exhibition.

She called on Government to give traditional art and crafts more recognition and factor it into future conferences.

Nine small art and craft companies exhibited beads, clothing, woodcarvings, fabrics, jewels and other gift items, all produced locally.

Patronage of the goods which began on a low note, shot up later as delegates from 160 countries which attended the eight-day conference, visited the grounds either to make a purchase or have a look at the goods on display.

Mr Joseph Kofi Asare, Manager of Marcalf Creations also called on Government to assist with the marketing, explaining that 'with an expanded market, I can train more people.'

Ms Belinda Bosompem, Proprietress of Bell's Enterprise called on operators to introduce varieties into their designs.

She also called for regulatory mechanisms to flush out quacks, who manipulated customers and took advantage of the ignorance of foreign buyers.

Industry operators told the GNA they were organising themselves into an association to enhance their accessibility to credit and other facilities.

hey have therefore appealed to embassies, tour companies, travel agencies and event organisers to invite them to local and international conferences.

 

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