Bolgatanga gets GH¢15,000 new Craft centre
TradeAid in collaboration with a Canadian non-governmental organisation- Canadian Feed the Children (CTFC) on Tuesday inaugurated a Craft Centre at Zaare in the Upper East Region.
It was part of efforts to facilitate poverty reduction strategy in sustaining rural livelihood in North-Eastern Ghana.
The facility estimated at the cost of GH¢15,000.00 would provide product development and business management training as well as market linkage, which would contribute greatly in sustaining the livelihood of more than 350 basket weavers.
Mrs Zeinabu Ayariga, a Board member of TradeAid, commended government for initiating the National Youth employment Programme (NYEP) and the construction of a craft village for basket weavers in the region.
She called on government to expedite work on the craft village and institute a programme to provide working space for weavers.
She said in addressing the needs of basket weavers, it was necessary for government to consult major stakeholders in the basket industry.
“There is the need to subject the industry to detail planning so as to come out with interventions that would deal with the concerns of the weavers.”
Mrs Ayariga expressed appreciation to CFTC for its immense support in addressing issues of poverty in the region which is of great concern to the government.
Inaugurating the centre, Mrs Lucy Awuni, Deputy Regional Minister commended TradeAid for working closely with basket weavers to improve their livelihoods.
She appealed to the body to extend their services to other parts of the region and called on the private sector to help support the people to earn better livelihoods.
“Government sees the private sector as an active partner in development,” she noted, adding that the private sector is central in creating jobs and increasing government revenue through taxation, which funds social investments in the country.
She indicated that, funds had been allocated in the 2012 budget for assessment of the Bolgatanga Craft Village to determine the level of support required for its development.
She urged the basket weavers to take advantage of government’s intervention to improve their living conditions.
Mr Nicholas Apokerah, Executive Director of TradeAid commended the NYEP for their efforts in the basket industry and appealed for a broader consultation and involvement of stakeholders to help improve the industry.
Director of Programmes of CFTC-Canada, Heather Johnston called on women beneficiaries to make use of the facility.
A representative of the Zaare Amisre Craft Group, Mrs Safia Atule, expressed delight to TradeAid and Canadian Feed The Children for the support.
Source: GNA