Nuumo Gbelenfo III takes a look at some exhibits
The African Arts & Culture Development (AACD)-African Market has organised its seventh African Arts, Crafts and Fashion Fair, with a call on the European Union (EU) to support African arts, crafts and fashion entrepreneurs.
It has asked the EU to help provide skills training for interested youth.
Addressing guests at the opening session of the fair which was under the theme ‘African Renaissance’ at the African Market located at East Legon, Stanley Felten, CEO of AACD-African Market Accra, indicated that a number of sustainable business opportunities abound in the industry.
He said the arts and craft industry is very broad and encompasses specialised technology that creates artistic qualities to enhance attraction with market value.
Mr Felten mentioned some of the attractions of the works of the industry as covering cloth weaving, basketry, blacksmithing, pottery, jewellery, carving, textiles, leather works and antiques as learner-friendly areas to tap into for business creation.
“I am worried that many young Africans and especially Ghanaians perceive migration to foreign lands as the only means of survival whereas better opportunities exist in our industry and for which we believe that support from the EU to this industry to train interested youth will yield very good returns,” he stated.
He indicated that the fair is also about sending out a clarion call to all stakeholders to channel support to this industry to train the youth with the sole intention of stemming the high incidence of migration among people to Libya, Dubai and other Gulf countries only to end up as slaves.
The fair was opened from December 20 to 20, 2017 and on display were artifacts showcased by seven exhibitors covering beads, beaded materials, carvings fashion, antiques, ceramics, among others.
By Solomon Ofori