Public Agenda (Accra)
Kwesi Yirenkyi Boateng
29 August 2008
A side attraction at the just ended UN Conference on Climate Change at the Accra International Conference Centre was the exhibition show mounted at the forecourt of the State House by the Into Clothing Marketing enterprise.
The exhibition, which was geared towards promoting Ghanaian art and culture, targeted the visiting participants at the eight-day conference.
In a welcoming address at the official opening of the exhibition, Mrs. Joyce Ankrah, CEO of Into Clothing Marketing enterprise, said the organisation of the fair which is the first of its kind was a step to showcase what the small enterprise in the art and craft industry have in stock.
The main challenges facing exhibiters include finance, marketing and the stiff competition the local wares face from imported clothes and other cultural wares.
With capital mobilization being the major setback of the exhibiters, Mrs. Ankrah appealed to banks and other financial institution to lend members of the association, soft loans and other assistance.
She therefore called on the Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, Foreign Embassies, Tour Operators and the Ghana Tourist Board to invite them to exhibit at such programmes.
Among some of the wares on display were beads, hand woven kente, leather sandals, and cowry chains. Others include lain clothes, tie and die clothes, and other traditional accessories.
Organizers of the show, Into Clothing Marketing Enterprise together with eight other partners expressed optimism in increasing sales and hope to form an association to address their numerous challenges.
Although, some exhibiters say most of the raw materials used in producing their wares are obtained in Ghana, some said they sometimes travel to other sister African countries to procure the raw materials, which ultimately increase the cost of production.
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