This revival is led by talented weavers who produce beautiful Kente clothes, which are more than just fabrics; they are living histories of Ghana’s past.

The market is notable for the creative ways craftspeople are using Kente cloth to create modern fashion accessories like caps, ties, skirts, bags, and shirts.

Combining ancient designs into everyday wear is how designers are giving the previously ceremonial cloth a modern touch, maintaining the fabric’s significance while preserving its cultural significance.

The beautiful beadwork and chains that decorate the Kente designs lend them a stylish and classy touch, transforming them into wearable works of art appropriate for any occasion.

Ghana’s rich cultural artwork is depicted in every pattern, bead, and chain, which combines tradition and modernity.

The market is a living museum that embraces the future with boldness while honouring the past. Fashion and cultural lovers looking for genuine encounters and stronger ties to Ghana’s past will find it to be an essential trip.

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The Musicians Union of Ghana has sworn in its newly elected executives at a ceremony in Accra. At the event, all musicians were encouraged to be tolerant and not talk about unpleasant or personal matters in public.

It was an array of music and happy moments when the musicians congregated to swear in their new executives.

There were past MUSIGA presidents, legends of the Ghanaian music Industry, chiefs and some other prominent personalities.

MUSIGA was relieved to organise the ceremony and said it believes that under this executive association will rise again.

The national professional officer for culture, UNESCO, Mr Carl Ampah said his outfit supports MUSIGA. The chairman of the Ghana Cultural forum, Nana Otuo Owoahene Acheampong chaired the ceremony.

The Deputy Minister for Tourism Arts and Culture, Mark Okraku-Mantey advised the union to be united.

The chairman of the Ghana Cultural forum, Nana Otuo Owoahene Acheampong swore the executives into office.

MUSIGA’s new president, Mr Bessa Simons says his team will not be a disappointment to members and called for their support.

There were solidarity messages

The swearing ceremony also took place across nine other regions in the country.

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One of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites in Ghana at the Jomoro District of the Western Region, Nzulezu, (which means surface of water), has been flooded after a heavy downpour. The community, which is entirely made up of stilts and harbours over five hundred people, is almost submerged after it rained continuously for seven days.

School pupils have also been affected as the Nzulezu Primary School has been destroyed by the flood. Some residents are said to have been evacuated on boats to Beyin, a nearby community in the area, to seek shelter.

According to some of the residents, a similar event happened some ten years ago, but that was not as serious as this one. The tourist attraction–Nzulezu-was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site on January 17, 2000, in the cultural category, and has since witnessed a significant increase in both local and foreign tourist visits.

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A moment of grace offered by the artists gathered: associations PAS SAGE-Cie Lullaby, FABRE-SENOU.

The artists are Fibi Afloe, George Newspaper, Isaac Gyamfi A., Ofoe Amegavie, Ngminvielu Kuuire and Ivy Gbeze.

Others are Kay Kwabia, Misper Apawu, Nipah Dennis, Teresa Menka.

Commissioner is Alice Raymond:
“The proposed selection is the result of a global perception of Ghana through the prism of the contemporary photographic scene during Alice Raymond’s months of stay in the country.”

Tradition and creation mix in various genres ranging from photo reporting to plastic photography.

Like in the painting, the portrait is very present; add to it the celebrations in its danced or processionary expressions, the scenes of everyday life between news and heritage testimony, and finally social and gender issues, evolving in Ghana as in many other countries.

George writes:

“As a photographer, I’ve always been critical of my own work and never imagined that my photographs would be exhibited in an international setting. However, being part of the ‘Memoires et Permanences’ exhibition in Bordeaux, France, is a dream come true. This is a major milestone in my career as a visual storyteller, especially since I only started taking photo documenting seriously in 2020.”

”While I have quite a number of photographs in my portfolio, they have not been exhibited yet. I’m hoping to find a good curator who can help me select the best pieces for an exhibition, whether it’s in Ghana or anywhere else in the world.”

”As much as I love photography, it’s tough to find opportunities to study photojournalism in Ghana. I am looking for an opportunity outside Ghana to study. Unfortunately, our institutions are not well-equipped to train photojournalists like they do journalists. Nevertheless, I remain optimistic about my future and am committed to growing my skills as a visual storyteller.”

”I believe that this exhibition in Bordeaux will open new doors for me and provide exposure that will help me achieve my ambitions. I’m excited to see where this journey takes me and am grateful for the support of those who have encouraged me along the way,” he concluded.

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A representative of the Ministry of Arts and Culture Mr. John Yaw Agbeko has outlined some initiatives by the Ministry to celebrate Heritage month this year. According to him the Ministry is undertaking activities to ensure that the cultural heritage of the country is preserved.

These initiatives, he said, include the Cultural Policy Review.

Mr. Agbeko made the point while he launched the 2022 State Broadcaster, GBC’s Heritage Month in Accra.

He said the policy document required a review in order to accommodate modern development trends as a result of our constant interaction with other cultures, digital revolution and evolution of the creative arts and its impact on emerging economies”.

He further added that the Ministry is working closely with the Attorney General’s working closely with the Attorney General’s Department, UNESCO Ghana and other stakeholders to finalize the cultural heritage development fund deal as well as produce a strategic framework for arts and culture in the country.

”The deal, when passed, will allow others to provide the necessary funding for cultural activities in the country”, he said.

Read Also: GBC’s Heritage Month

Launching the Series on Wednesday, 28^th April 2021, at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel, President Akufo-Addo noted that Ghana has an abundance of forts and castles, national parks, historic palaces, wildlife and festivals that could be filmed and marketed for tourist purposes.

According to President Akufo-Addo, “the consistent favourable rankings of Ghana by the World Economic Forum Global Competitive Report as politically stable, with a safe and secure environment, unique and better tourist assets and infrastructure, should make the country a preferable film and tourism hub, which should be leveraged by Ghanaian film producers.”

He continued, “We are, indeed, the safest country in West Africa, and the third most peaceful country on the continent. This enviable position has great marketing and promotional ramifications for the development and sustainability of the Ghanaian film industry. It is for these reasons that we have gathered this afternoon to launch the first -ever Presidential Film Pitch Series, which is also the first of its kind in Africa.”

As a result of the Film Pitch Series, Government, through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the National Film Authority, has brought together Ghanaian film producers on one hand, and investors, distributors and marketers on the other, to make deals to the tune of US$25 million.

With the $25 million investment already secured, President Akufo-Addo noted that this will go a long way to strengthen the local film ecosystem, with some 6,000 jobs set to be created as a result.

“Ghanaian film producers now have the opportunity to access markets for their films, and I want to take this opportunity to encourage local film producers to show more creativity and innovation in their productions to make Ghanaian films not only popular within the country, but also capable of satisfying international audiences,” the President added.

With the Ghanaian film industry having many talented players along the value chain, he assured that Government will continue to initiate policies and programmes to help make the Ghanaian film sector competitive and viable.

The National Film Authority, President Akufo-Addo said, will lead the charge in introducing business development modules into film-making, production and distribution, in order to help create a vibrant market for local film production.

NAFTI gets €45 million

The President also revealed at the event that the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI), the oldest film and television training school in West Africa, is being retooled to enable it provide the needed training for players in the industry, in the quest to make Ghana attractive to international film productions, as well as the hub of film production in West Africa.

“€45 million has been approved for NAFTI to reform it into a world class training facility. The school is also introducing specialized courses in script writing, as well as the business of film,” he said.

This, according to President Akufo-Addo, means that Ghana will now have graduates with specialty in script writing to feed the film sector, and help build the needed structures for a vibrant film ecosystem.

Additionally, NAFTI will also be issuing its own degrees as part of the University of Media Arts.

The imminent completion of the Creative Arts Senior High School, in Kwadaso, the President noted, “will help open up the creative process from the secondary school level, making the arts sector a vibrant option for many students, by giving targeted training to young people, and offering them the opportunity for employment in the creative arts sector.

He added that the Creative Arts Senior High School will also help prepare students who desire to further their education at NAFTI, thereby providing a stream of creative talents.

“As we gradually emerge from the pandemic, I will like to urge players in the sector to step-up their entrepreneurial acumen. Film-trepreneurs must lead in the creation of new businesses, which would serve as an important ingredient for the development of a vibrant business sector,” the President stressed.

He, thus, entreated the youth, particularly women, to develop greater interest in the film value chain, assuring that “Government is determined to create an environment that fosters youth entrepreneurship which results in the creation of new business entities.”

He said he was ready to use his business expertise and entrepreneurial skills to change the face of Ghana’s tourism industry, emphasising he would infuse business perspectives and strategic policy directions that would rake in huge financial gains for the sector.

Speaking at the maiden two-day retreat for management, staff and Heads of Agencies under the Ministry, Dr Awal said, “I am committed to making the tourism sector the number one contributor to the country’s GDP from its current third place ranking.”

Dr Awal said the sector was currently not doing well as expected and as such its fortunes must be turned round to make it the game changer in the economic transformation of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo’s vision for Ghana’s “Beyond Aid” Agenda.

“I am going to make Ghana an attractive tourism destination by boosting tourism, culture and, creative arts, given that it is a multi-billion dollar industry, which needs to be given the utmost attention it deserves.”

He said he would make domestic tourism a top-most agenda to attract about one million local tourist’s visitation annually, and create massive employment opportunities for the citizenry.

Dr Awal, entreated the Heads of Agencies under the Ministry to, as a matter of Policy direction, inform him before undertaking or executing any of their policies or operations.

Mr. John Yao Agbeko, Chief Director of the Ministry, said the meeting was for the Minister to formally meet management staff and Heads of Agencies under the Ministry to deliberate on how to move the industry forward.

He said it was also to also afford the policy makers an opportunity to have a deeper knowledge of the sector.

All 11 Heads of Agencies under the Ministry took turns to brief the meeting on their respective policy interventions.

The Assembly said such acts go contrary to its bye-laws.

It cited a recent one at Dimples roundabout near Dzorwulu which has been vandalized by some unscrupulous individuals with ethnocentric inscriptions.

The Assembly in a statement said it has mounted a search for the perpetrators of such acts and they will be made to face the full rigors of the law.

The AMA appealed to the public to volunteer information leading to the arrest and prosecution of such persons.

PRESS RELEASE: Defacing of Wall Murals at Dimples Roundabout#AccraforArt#AccraLiveInLoveIt pic.twitter.com/aXrmMQMJt7

— CITY OF ACCRA (@AccraMetropolis) August 14, 2020