GEPA CEO Engages Artisans at Bolgatanga Arts Market to Advance Export Opportunities

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Francis Kojo Kwarteng Arthur Esq., has visited the Bolgatanga Arts Market as part of his working visit to the Upper East Region, engaging directly with artisans to better understand the opportunities and challenges confronting the region’s arts and crafts industry.

The visit formed part of the CEO’s broader engagements with stakeholders in the region aimed at strengthening collaboration and identifying practical interventions to support local businesses and expand the export of products from the Upper East Region.

At the Bolgatanga Arts Market, the CEO interacted with artisans and traders involved in the production and sale of the region’s renowned handicrafts, particularly the internationally recognised Bolgatanga baskets. The engagement provided an opportunity for the artisans to share their experiences, challenges and aspirations for growing their businesses and reaching more international markets.

Among the key concerns raised were the high cost of shipping products to international customers, logistics challenges and inadequate market infrastructure. The artisans explained that while demand for Bolgatanga baskets continues to grow among customers outside Ghana, these challenges can affect their ability to serve international markets efficiently and expand their businesses.

The artisans also drew attention to unfinished structures at the Bolgatanga Arts Market, which they believe could significantly improve the trading environment and provide better facilities for artisans and visitors if completed.

In response, the GEPA CEO assured the artisans that the Authority is actively exploring ways to facilitate the completion of the unfinished structures. He disclosed that discussions with relevant stakeholders are already far advanced and pledged GEPA’s continued collaboration with the appropriate institutions to help bring the project to fruition.

The CEO further emphasised the importance of creating an enabling environment in which artisans can produce, trade and access international markets more effectively. He noted that addressing infrastructure and logistics challenges is essential to unlocking the full commercial and export potential of the region’s arts and crafts sector.

The Bolgatanga basket remains one of Ghana’s distinctive handicraft products with strong recognition in international markets, offering significant opportunities for income generation, job creation and increased export earnings.

The engagement therefore underscored GEPA’s stakeholder-centred approach to export development, where direct interaction with producers and businesses informs the identification of challenges and the development of practical solutions.

The visit also highlighted the importance of stronger collaboration between public institutions, local authorities and industry players in creating the conditions necessary for Ghanaian artisans to compete more effectively in international markets.

As GEPA continues its engagements across the Upper East Region, the Authority remains focused on identifying and supporting products with strong export potential while working with stakeholders to address barriers that limit their access to global markets.