A Proposed Craft Village project for the Western Region has been abandoned by government.
The main objective of the project is to bring together all artisans engaged in the work of tourism art and craft in the region, with emphasis on those scattered in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis.
Investigations conducted by The Finder have revealed that despite the endorsement of the project by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, as well as the Ministry of Trade and Industry, its execution and funding has always been a great challenge.
The Western Regional Director of the Ghana Tourists Authority (GTA), Mr Michael Kpingbi, in an interview, confirmed the significance of the project and the challenges they are facing.
“We all know the potential of art and craft. Having them scattered all over will not help, in any way, to develop or promote tourism. When you go to Ashanti Region, for instance, you find all the arts and craftsmen working at one place.
“We have a similar thing in Accra where all dealers in arts and crafts work together in a one-stop shop.
“That is exactly our dream for the Western Region and we are working hard to clear the obstacles in our way,” he stressed.
The Finder’s investigations, however, show that nothing concrete has been done, except the uncompleted regional theatre sitting in the middle of the land.
Mr Isaac Yankson, Western Regional Director of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, also believes putting the operators together at a vantage point will improve their activities, enhance trade and promote tourism in the country.
“They brought their drawings and other things; we submitted it to EDIF, so we are waiting so that we can bring all the artisans at one common ground to help them in their production, because now they are all scattered all around. It is not the best,” he bemoaned.
Despite sympathising with the craftsmen, Mr Yankson could, however, not stick his neck out to confirm exactly how and what kind of assistance the ministry could offer to bring the project into fruition.
The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), which stands to benefit in terms of revenue generation from the hundreds of craftsmen scattered throughout the metropolis and beyond, has not shown commitment towards the project.
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