Handicraft business in Ho dying

Ho, April. 29, GNA- Mr William Addo, Volta Regional Director of the Centre for National Culture (CNC), on Tuesday, called on the Ho Municipal Assembly to relocate all art and craft shops in the municipality to the CNC's craft village near the Regional House of Chiefs.

That way, the CNC would be able to coordinate their activities and link them to local and foreign tourists to make the sector lucrative, Mr Addo said.

He made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on the state of the art and crafts business in the municipality and their economic viability.

Mr Addo observed that business has become slow in the sector and almost dead because the operators were scattered at non-strategic locations in the town.

He said the CNC had made several representations to the Municipal Assembly on the matter, but no action has been taken.

Mr Addo said the Centre had done its best by organizing several fairs to expose operators in the sector but the stumbling block was due to the uncoordinated manner the business was being organized. Mr Seidu Bukari, owner of African Products Azakua, a popular craft shop near the Ho Municipal Police station, said, "the market is bad. Our capital is locked up that is why many are folding up".

Mr Ben Adjorlolo, Ho Municipal Coordinating Director said he did not know anything about the establishment of a craft market. Personnel at the Municipal Planning Office also said they were unaware of the project.