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Art dealers still in business pending relocation
Members of the Art and Craft Dealers Association say their recent engagement with government over plans to relocate the art market in Accra is yielding some positive result.
They have indicated their readiness to move to designated spaces at Kwawudi and Dodowa after the necessary facilities have been constructed.
Government intends to pull down structures at the centre to pave way for the marine drive project — an investment meant to boost the tourism industry and create jobs for the youth.
The traders, somewhat last year, had threatened to resist the relocation plans, citing various inconveniences the move was likely cause them.
They argued that livelihoods would be lost since the Community Youth Cultural Centre at Kwawukudi in Accra was not spacious to accommodate all of them
The new centre, according to them, lacks the facilities which will facilitate their activities hence their call on the government to consider renovating the centre instead of pulling it down completely.
But it appears the traders now appreciate the essence of their relocation to a new site. When The Spectator visited the market square on Wednesday, some traders were seen attending to a handful of clients.
Contrary to previous reports, Mr Charles Kofi Appiah, Chairman of the Traditional Cultural Kente and Adinkra Manufacturers and Sellers Association, explained that it was only the administration of the centre for National Culture that was relocating.
He said prospective clients thought the market square had already been relocated but it was still operating and business was picking up gradually.
The traders are, however, not clear how soon the relocation would happen and appealed to the government to fast track work on the Kawukudi and Dodowa projects before they are relocated.
The Art Centre has been an embodiment of culture for many years. It has a Visual Arts Department, a market square and a theatre which serve as rehearsal grounds for persons in the arts.
By Lizzy Okai
The Diaspora Affairs Office at the Office of the President has hosted a delegation of African diaspora women who are in Ghana ahead of a planned Presidential Conferment of Citizenship ceremony.
The Director of Diaspora Affairs, Kofi Okyere Darko, explained in a Facebook post that the visit was a gesture of appreciation by the delegation to the Government of Ghana for its continued efforts to reconnect Africans in the diaspora with their ancestral homeland.
He indicated that the ceremony, scheduled for next Monday, will officially grant Ghanaian citizenship to members of the delegation as part of the country’s broader engagement with the African diaspora.
The delegation was led by Erica Bennett, Founder of the Diaspora Africa Forum.
According to Mr Okyere Darko, her years of advocacy have played an important role in strengthening ties between Africa and people of African descent living abroad.
He noted that the group’s journey towards citizenship represents not only a legal process but also a cultural and spiritual return to their roots.
Also present at the meeting was Natalie Jackson, an attorney who is also expected to receive Ghanaian citizenship during the ceremony. She works closely with renowned civil rights lawyer Ben Crump.
Mr Okyere Darko emphasised that Ghana remains committed to strengthening relationships with the African diaspora and promoting unity, identity, and shared heritage among people of African descent worldwide.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana Tourism Authority is leading Ghana’s participation at ITB Berlin, which opened in Berlin with a vibrant national pavilion highlighting Ghana’s rich cultural heritage, tourism destinations and investment opportunities.
March 5 has been designated as Ghana Day, a special platform to promote Ghana’s languages, cuisine, Kente, festivals and business prospects to the global tourism community. The stand has already drawn strong interest with traditional arts and crafts displays, immersive multimedia presentations and popular Ghanaian snacks.
Seven private-sector players are exhibiting alongside government officials as part of efforts to deepen trade partnerships, expand market access, and attract investment across the hospitality, heritage tourism, ecotourism, and creative arts sectors.
Ahead of the official opening, the Ghana delegation also engaged young Ghanaian investors in Germany in collaboration with V Afrika-Verein and the Ghana Embassy, strengthening diaspora investment linkages and highlighting opportunities within the tourism value chain.
Ghana’s coordinated presence at ITB Berlin 2026 reinforces its strategy to position the country as the Gateway to Africa and a competitive destination for leisure travel and global investment.
