Promote Apostle Sarfo's Inventions-Director

The Director of the Kumasi Cultural Centre, Mr. S.F Agyei, has expressed concern about what he described as the governments continued failure to show keen interest in the inventions, innovations and ingenuity of Apostle Kwadwo Sarfo of the Kristo Asafo fame.

Mr Agyei also questioned why institutions like the KNUST have also refused to tap the ingenuity of the industrialist or team up with him by investing in his venture to promote development. He held the view that, a collaboration between Apostle Sarfo and the nation's universities would create an opportunity to have scientific products improved which could mark the beginning of a major technological breakthrough in the country. The Director of the Kumasi cultural centre was speaking at a day's workshop on culture and tourism organized by the college of Art and Social Sciences of KNUST.

He was not happy that a developing country like Ghana appears not willing to accept the Apostle's innovation to encourage graduates to be more practically oriented and thus be able to create their own jobs. He called on all to ensure the growth and development of the nation's cultural institutions and make them relevant to human development, democratic governance and national integration.

In a presentation, the Ashanti Regional Director for the Ghana Tourist Board, Mr. Anane Nsiah announced that tourism has grown rapidly from increasing from a tourist arrival figure of 213 thousand 216 to 482 thousand 643 between the year 2002 and 2004 earning for the country over 519.57 million dollars within that period.

He explained that the Ministry of Tourism's strategic Action Plan, dubbed “Tourism 2007” is aimed at increasing tourism arrivals to one million people as well as making it the largest employer in the formal sector with a target to create 500 thousand jobs and increase tourism forex-earnings to 1.5 billion US dollars. He however noted that to achieve this target the tourism industry will need 50 thousand trained personnel. The head of the Integrated Rural Art and Industry Mrs. Vesta Adu Gyamfi appealed to the tourism Ministry to come to the aid of the craft industry by helping them to upgrade their products. She suggested that a centre for product design where craftsmen in the country can learn the basics and dynamics of designing to enhance the quality of craft to boost tourism. The programme was chaired by the Provost of Art and Social Sciences of KNUST, Professor Dr. Dr. Bour.