GEPA’s CEO takes export conversation to Western Region’s creative businesses

The creative and handicrafts sector in the Western Region has come under renewed attention as the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Francis Kojo Kwarteng Arthur Esq., met with a number of businesses and industry groups during his working visit to the region.

His first stop was the Wood Carvers and Cane Weavers Association, where members spoke about the realities of running their businesses and the support they require to expand. The CEO encouraged the artisans to register their businesses, explaining that formalisation would put them in a stronger position to access relevant institutional assistance and opportunities.

The members welcomed the engagement and expressed their appreciation for the CEO’s visit and his response to the concerns they raised.

At the Dress Up College of Fashion, the CEO was taken through the institute’s activities and future plans by its representative, Mr. Eric David Akwabeng. Among the plans presented was the establishment of a street market, alongside a request for support from GEPA.

Mr. Arthur asked the institute to submit its proposals for consideration and indicated that the Authority would assess them and make the appropriate recommendations within its mandate. He subsequently toured the facility, where he interacted with trainees and encouraged them to take their training seriously and maximise the skills they are acquiring.

The CEO’s visit to Kolics Ventures offered another perspective on the region’s manufacturing potential. The footwear company produces shoes from recycled materials, trains young people in footwear production and has already established an outlet in Côte d’Ivoire.

Mr. Arthur praised the company for developing a business model that combines manufacturing, skills development and recycling. He urged the management to continue improving its products and to look beyond Ghana for growth, particularly by using international trade fairs and exhibitions where GEPA participates to present their products to potential buyers.

The engagements gave the CEO a closer look at businesses operating within the region’s creative and manufacturing space, while allowing entrepreneurs to articulate their needs directly to the Authority.

Mr. Arthur observed that the Western Region has significant untapped potential and urged businesses to think beyond the local market. He encouraged them to strengthen their products and take advantage of opportunities in the global marketplace, where locally produced goods can generate new commercial opportunities and contribute to Ghana’s export growth.