GEPA to establish arts and craft school

The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) is to establish an industrial arts and craft school for exporters who deal in such products to help them meet international standards and specific requirements by individual destinations.

Already, a hub to promote arts and craft among non-traditional exports (NTEs) is being developed in Aburi and other parts of the country.

The Chief Executive Officer of GEPA, Ms Afua Asabea Asare, said this after handing over some personal protective equipment (PPE) to groups in the arts and craft industry in the Ashanti Region to reduce the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The items included Veronica buckets, hand sanitiser and nose masks.

Tour

Ms Asare and her team, including her deputy in charge of Operations and Finance, Mr Samuel Dentu, as well as the new Ashanti Regional Director of GEPA, Mr George Ameyaw, also toured some selected arts and craft sites to interact with artists and find out about their specific needs.

The arts and craft school forms part of the technical support GEPA intends to offer to people in the industry to grow NTEs.

Advice

Mr Dentu advised industry players to come together to promote their businesses to help build the local economy and also improve on their lot.

He said GEPA would assist exporters by sourcing for middlemen or companies to buy their products in large quantities.

He also said GEPA was working towards the transformation of the garment industry to ensure that it produced to right specifications to meet global demands.
Ghana generated revenue of $2.899 billion from the export of NTEs in 2019.