The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) has said it is set to identify, develop and promote a host of new products and services made in Ghana for export.
This came to light at an exhibition in Accra, dubbed Sound Out, which was organised to showcase works by premium, locally selected artists.
The chief executive officer of GEPA, Afua Asabea Asare, disclosed that her Authority will boost the quality and production capacity of export sectors to enable the country to meet the demands of GEPA’s “Export Ghana, Export More” initiative.
She said the Authority’s support is aligned to one of the key pillars of Ghana’s National Export Development Strategy, launched in the last quarter of 2020 with a revenue target of US$25.3 billion by 2029.
“The industrial arts and crafts sector is one of the four categories of exports we cater for, as an Authority under the Ministry of Trade and Industry,” she said, “the first being boosting the production capacity of our exports and the second being building a business environment that supports exports.
“The Sound Out premium art exhibition aligns with the third pillar, which is to build capacity for industrial export development and marketing.”
“The intention is to build this Sound Out platform to a level where artists on the continent will be clamouring to showcase their pieces at this annual festival,” she said.
Commitment to arts and crafts
For his part, the Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante, commended GEPA for working hard to support Ghana’s industrial arts and crafts sector.
He said it is time Ghana paid much more attention to using all available means to nurture the art industry and strengthen arts and crafts businesses.
“Let me commend the Ghana Export Promotion Authority for working on your mandate to support Ghana’s industrial arts and crafts sector,” Nana Bediatuo Asante said. “My commendation stems from your obvious commitment to provide such a huge platform to arts and crafts in Ghana.
“Too often, as a people, we focus on promoting everything else around us, relegating the aspects of life that feed our inspiration.
“It is quite heart-warming to know that, in the midst of today’s fast-paced technology-driven world moving at neck-breaking speed, we have not lost the creative combination of the skilful use of our hands and minds to powerfully express thoughts and perceptions that shape and inspire our thinking as a people,” he said.
High attraction
Herbert Krapa, a deputy minister of trade and industry, said that Ghanaian arts are highly attraction and therefore can be found in almost every sphere of life. He encouraged artists to leverage on the demand to produce more.
“Increasing Ghanaian patronage of celebrated Ghanaian works and connecting global markets – that is why I chose to be here today.
“Platforms such as this – the Sound Out premium art exhibition – will not only improve Ghanaian patronage: they are the surest way of increasing awareness and sharing market information. And, of course, there is the added benefit of increased revenue for our economy.
“By appreciating our own, we promote our own. A study of ten galleries in Accra done by the International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences showed that African-American and other tourists consumed 64% of our artefacts, while indigenous Ghanaians patronised 36%. It could be better than that,” he said.
The exhibition was organised by GEPA in collaboration with the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, the Ghana Tourism Authority and Ghana EXIM Bank.
Philip Abutiate
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