Dolls of Japan exhibition opens

Mrs Gladys Asmah, Minister of Women and Children's Affairs, on Friday said Ghanaians must not allow certain cultural practices to retard the nation's progress.

Mrs Asmah who was speaking at the opening of a Japanese Dolls Exhibition in Accra said Ghanaians should rather learn to use culture positively for development.

She said Ghana admires Japan for the way it had preserved and modernised its cultural beliefs and practices.

"We in Ghana have a lot to learn from Japan," she said.

"We share similar belief systems, cultural norms and values such as respect for the aged, the way we greet warmly and the way we interact and accommodate people from different cultures."

Mrs Asmah said an exhibition "of such a unique collection of dolls" did not only represent magnificent levels of Japanese development but also reflected Japanese advancement and their contribution to the present day of dolls.

She noted that Ghana unlike Japan could only boast of a few people specialised in native doll making.

The Minister said the exhibition, served both as an eye-opener for Ghana to develop its indigenous crafts and native dolls for the export market and also to cement Ghana-Japanese friendship and co-operation.

Mrs Asmah commended the Japanese for their advancement in many fields, especially the electronics, saying, "if we in Ghana are to progress we need to adopt the hard work ethic and the adaptability of the Japanese."

She expressed the government's appreciation to the Japanese government for its assistance to Ghana, adding that the services of Japanese volunteers were appreciated in the whole country.

Mr Himorotu Nitta, Japan's Ambassador to Ghana, said the art of doll making in Japan had passed through many changes with the idea to represent the manners and customs of children of the various eras.

He said doll making in Japan was elevated to the status of an art long before the 20th Century and was still a highly admired art.

Dr Isaac Nyadi Debrah, Acting Director of the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board, said Japan was one country whose success could be traced to the self-discipline and moral values of her people.

He urged the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) to continue with capacity building programmes for Ghanaians.

"As our people train in Japan, I believe it should be possible for Japanese cultural experts to also research in Ghana," he said.

The exhibition, which is entitled, "Dolls of Japan Exhibition," is by courtesy of the Japan Foundation and forms part of the month-long cultural celebration of the Ghana-Japan Friendship Association.