REGIONAL MINISTER INAUGURATES CRAFT CENTRE (NOV 2, PAGE 38)

A GH¢30,000 craft centre capable of accommodating 170 craftsmen engaged in basket weaving has been inaugurated at Nyariga, near Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.
The building comprises a large hall, two store rooms and an office.
The project was partly financed by two USA-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs), “The Blessing Basket Project” and “Whole Foods Market”, which are major clients of hand-made craft products from Nyariga.
The Founder and Executive Director of the Blessing Basket Project, Ms Theresa Wilson, said she realised the potential of the basket weaving industry in the community five years ago although there was no reliable market for the products, while poverty was also rife among the people.
She, therefore, went into partnership with the community to buy their baskets at prices higher than the prevailing market value for export to the USA where the Whole Food Market took up the responsibility to retail the products.
Ms Wilson said the two companies decided to plough back the profit they made into the community.
She explained that the goal of the project was to end poverty among the people they serve by giving them a “hand-up” not “a hand out”, adding “Our approach to poverty reduction is simple and clear”.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, who inaugurated the centre, commended the two organisations for the good work they were doing for the community.
He said basket and smock weaving had now become important local industry and primary source of income for most of the people in the district, adding that the industry had contributed in reducing abject poverty in the area which is the ultimate goal of every nation.
Mr Woyongo urged the people not to be complacent but should work harder to ensure that their children were not only enrolled in schools, but must stay to complete their education.
The Assembly Member for the area, Mr John Nyaaba appealed to the government to assist the women with credit facilities to enable them to produce more baskets.
He also called for financial assistance to buy more raw materials during the main season which will be stored to be used during the lean season.