All African Arts and Crafts exhibition opens in Accra
Accra, (Greater Accra) 04 May 2002 - An all-African Arts and Crafts Exhibition, dubbed, "Fair Trade in Diversity" on Saturday opened at Nungua near Accra. Ten African countries and 26 producers and exporters are attending the fourteen-day exhibition. The exhibition was also to commemorate world fair Trade Day, which falls on Saturday, 4 May.
Opening it, Mr, Semshak Gompil, Executive Member, International Federation for Alternative Trade (IFAT) urged exporters, exhibitors and buyers to always pay maximum attention to the producers of crafts who are mainly rural dwellers to enjoy the fruits of their labour in order to produce more.
He said art and craft have become a major export in Africa, which seeks to give a boost to African economies, yet it is not given prior attention by governments. He called for partnership between producers, buyers from the developing and developed countries that would result in empowering the lifestyles of producers in the rural level.
Mr. Wim Olthop, Economic Adviser at the European Union (EU), who stood in for the head of EU delegation in Ghana said all obstacles that stood in the way of fair trade on the African continent would be seriously tackled by the EU to ensure equal participation in trade. He said fair trade focus on a partnership that is based on dialogue, transparency and respect that seeks greater equity in international trade.
He said fair trade contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to secure the rights of marginalised producers. Mr. Olthop advised fair trade partners and consumers to vigorously create awareness and campaign for changes in the rules and practice of conventional international trade. Among the crafts exhibited included textiles, clothing, woodwork, fine arts, musical instruments, baskets and jewellery.
GRi…/
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