Mr Frank Genya, a woodworker told a local economic empowerment meeting organised by the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) for owners of Small to Medium Scale Industries in the Municipality that the project which begun in 2004 only saw the completion of a showroom.

He said key installations such as workshops never materialised, burying the aspirations of craftsmen sponsored at the time to train in Burkina Faso, a country of significant art industry success.

Mr Genya said it was worrying that local industries were failing for lack of support although they absorbed the thousands of secondary school leavers that were unable to further their education.

He therefore called on stakeholders to help secure easy access to soft loans and equipment, saying the growth of the industry would increase job opportunities, and improve the Assembly’s revenue generation.

Mr Seth Klutse, Kpando Municipal Office of the National Board for Small Scale Industries told the Ghana News Agency that the development of an art village had been identified as an important component of the gallery project, and reiterated his outfit’s support for its realisation.

He hinted of a handicraft fair to be held in Burkina Faso’s capital of Ouagadougou from October 26 to November 04 2018, and that the NBSSI and other stakeholders were working on strong Ghanaian representation.

Mr Atta Kudjoh, North Dayi District Chief Executive and Dean of MDCEs in the Region said the Tourism Ministry had an art fund and assured that it would transform the face of the industry. He added that the Micro Finance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) was being revived to provide equipment support for SMEs, and assured that the Assembly would consider tax waivers and other incentives for compliant businesses.

Mr Dela Gadzanku, Chairman, Volta/Eastern branch of the AGI said the Association had hands on a series of training programmes for master craftsmen as part of its incubation centre project.

He said the AGI’s industrial fair and summit was scheduled for September, this year and encouraged interested entrepreneurs to focus on product and business packaging to attract more patronage.