Aburi Model Craft Village to be ready next year

Mr Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry on Thursday said the Aburi Model Craft Village would be ready for use by mid–next year.

He said the current situation whereby craft shops are scattered all over Accra does not promote the growth of the industry, hence the need to move them to the Aburi Model Craft Village once it has been completed.

He explained that creating a model craft village would give impetus to the handicraft business; as tourists and people who want their products would have to go there.

Mr Vanderpuye who was speaking during a visit to the Ivorian Model Craft Village at Grand Basam, Basam said the Aburi Model Village would have a theatre, training facilities and master craft persons to help others to sharpen their skills.

He lauded the Ivorian government for coming out with such an innovative initiative, describing it as an Economic Community of West African State Model Craft Village, because multi-nationals from across the sub-region are plying their artisan skills over there.

The Deputy Minister said government is also developing a Kente Weaving Village at Agotime in the Volta Region and that plans are underway for the creation of another one at Bonwire in the Ashanti Region, and a Basket Village at Bolgatanga.

He explained that the art and craft industry fall within the domain of his Ministry and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Art.