Preserve indigenous artistic knowledge - Hagan

Accra, March 5 GNA - Professor George Hagan, Chairman of the National Commission on Culture on Friday called on India and Ghana to explore fruitful opportunities in the fields of arts, science and technology that had been preserved from indigenous knowledge.

He also urged Ghanaian artists and craftsmen to study and draw inspirations from their Indian contemporaries.

Professor Hagan whose speech was read for him at the opening of an Indian exhibition of traditional and contemporary paintings by the Lalit Kala Akademi, National Academy of Art in Accra.

The National Commission on Culture organized the five-day painting exhibition in collaboration with the Indian High Commission in Accra.

Prof Hagan said Ghana and India had signed series of cultural agreement with the latest signed President J.A. Kufour on his recent visit to India.

He also commended the Indian government for its continued support in the socio-economic development of the country, adding that, the exhibition could promote cooperation between the two countries.

"The Commission is particularly happy to say that on the strength of this exhibition, Ghana and India have moved a step further in developing the existing cordial bilateral relations between the two countries" he said

Mr Kaikhosrou K Framji, Indian High Commissioner to Ghana said the objectives of the exhibition was to promote the study and research in the field of creative arts as well as to project Indian tribal and traditional art.

He said the Lalit Kala Akademi set-up about 50 years ago, had developed and promoted Indian arts and artists.

He expressed the hope that the exhibition would provide opportunities for Ghanaian Artists and people to view and learn more about the rich Indian arts.