GEPA builds capacities of basket weavers in Upper East

By Anthony Apubeo, GNA

Bolgatanga, April 2, GNA – The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) has held a capacity development training for basket weaving master trainers in the Upper East Region.

It is designed to increase output, create employment and reduce poverty.

The five-day programme dubbed, “Trainer of Trainers”, brought together 50 master trainers from various basket weaving groups across the region.

These master trainers or weavers are expected to go back to their respective communities and groups and replicate the knowledge and skills acquired to their colleagues to improve on quality and quantity of baskets.

The training formed part of efforts being undertaken by GEPA to promote and ensure the production of competitive non-traditional and Made-in-Ghana products and to introduce the weavers to new product designs, and empower them technically to produce well patronised products.

Speaking on the final day of the training, Mr Albert Kassim Diwura, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GEPA, explained that the Authority, under the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) facilitates, developed and promoted Ghanaian exports and non-traditional products including; industrial arts and handicrafts to accelerate economic growth.

As result, he indicated, the authority was devising measures and strategies to improve on the quality of the traditional exports to attract and retain international markets, and added that the trainer of trainers’ workshop for the basket weavers was one such proactive steps.

“For instance, one of the key actions being undertaken by GEPA through the Leadership of the CEO, Madam Afua Asabea Asare is the review of Ghana’s National Development Strategy and taking bold steps to galvanise the necessary support for effective implementation in order to increase our non traditional Export earnings.”

The Deputy CEO stated that the demands on the competitive markets were dynamic and GEPA was determined to equip the weavers and others in other non traditional export sector in the region and other regions with the needed skills through periodic workshops and refresher programmes.

He said it was to ensure diversification in the production of quality products to meet global standards, tastes and quantity demanded. “There is the need to promote continuous development in the basket sector as most of the current designs were now regarded as stale products, not attracting the needed demands as expected,” he stressed.

He admonished the beneficiaries to endeavour to replicate the training to their colleagues in order to develop their skills, increase productivity, create employment for the people especially in the rural communities, thereby contributing to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

This, he added, would enhance the economic transformation agenda of the President and boost the economy.

The weavers expressed gratitude to GEPA for the immense support over the years and stated that the knowledge and skills learnt would significantly boost the sector through increased production and improvement in quality.

Madam Cecilia Aconga, Chairperson of the Yikene Women Weavers Association explained that the training would enable them to produce more quality products that would increase their income and improve on their livelihoods.

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