The maiden Sàkeva Transnational Cultural Festival has been opened at a grand ceremony in Sekondi to promote the artworks of local artists, heritage sites,
artefacts and cultural celebrations in the Metropolis. Opening the 4-day event, the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Andrew Egyapa Mercer,
commended the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly and its partners for the initiative to promote arts and crafts.
He pointed out that the culture and creative arts sector has the potential to create jobs but has not been the focus of the ministry compared to tourism.
He indicated his commitment to ensuring that the culture and creative arts sector receives the requisite attention. He further expressed his determination
to ensure the completion of the regional theatre, which has been under construction for over 30 years.
Hon. Mercer noted that the Creative Arts generate the content for tourism, adding that culture and heritage are usually portrayed through arts and culture and therefore called for cross-sectoral collaboration to earn the benefits from culture and tourism. He pledged his support to ensure that tourism and creative arts in the Twin-City grow to reap its accompanying benefits. The chairman for the occasion, Nana Kobina Nkestia V, reminded inhabitants of the need to stay united to promote their own cultural heritage by telling stories through performance and visual arts. He implored the gathering to be mindful and protect the values that hold us together as a people. The Mayor of Sekondi-Takoradi, Hon. Abdul-Mumin Issah, indicated that the event aimed at setting the visual arts and crafts sector as a pillar for local economic development, adding that it would highlight the critical role the industry plays in creating employment, promoting tourism and the creativity of artists in the Metropolis. He mentioned that the Assembly through the EU-funded Twin-Cities Sustainable Partnership Project, supported fifty-two (52) arts and crafts artists with a total grant of Ghc238,013.00 to produce innovative artworks for exhibition at the festival and Palermo in Italy.
He revealed that the Assembly has set up a Technical Team to co-create a strategic marketing document for the arts and crafts sector in Sekondi-Takoradi. The document, he said, is expected to address some of the challenges facing artists, establish effective market linkages with domestic and international buyers, encourage the adoption of new technologies to improve finishing and bridge the linkage between the academia and local artisans. He also mentioned the decision by the Assembly to revamp the Metro Arts and Crafts Gallery into a modern status to attract artworks from all artists for exhibition and sales. He used the opportunity to thank some institutions such as the Centre for National Culture (CNC), Takoradi Technical University, Ghana Association of Visual Arts (GAVA), Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the Ministry of Trade and Industries for their immense contributions towards the organization of the festival.
The Western Regional Minister, Hon. Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensa, pointed out that the celebration is a bold step to rekindle the values and norms portrayed by the creative arts industry. “The Western Region is blessed with beautiful cultural diversity, and Sàkeva is a necessity towards restoring the creative arts industry, the rich cultural heritage through sustained programmes and platforms”, he added. The inaugural Sàkeva Festival, was celebrated with the theme "Projecting Sekondi-Takoradi through Creative Arts". Highlights of activities for the 4-day event are Arts and Crafts Exhibition, a display of the 8 Akan Clans Totems, a Symposium on Arts and Tourism, a Visual Arts Festival for Students, and Eat and Wear Ghana Moments.