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EU votes 2m-euro grant to
support Ghana’s cultural development
Sunyani, March 17, Ghanadot/GNA – The European Union has
voted a two-million Euro grant for Ghana to design special
programmes aimed at transforming the cultural landscape of
the country.
The amount is being provided through the European
Development Fund (EDF).
Mr. Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng, National Coordinator of the
Cultural Initiatives Support Program (CISP) announced this
in Sunyani at the weekend during the opening of a four-day
workshop for about 80 cultural officers and administrators.
He said the idea to organise the workshop, was informed by
the need to make up for the shortfalls and weaknesses
identified in the implementation of the Ghana Cultural
Policy.
Broadly, Mr Gyan-Apenteng said, CISP sought development of
knowledge, information and analysis capacity, reinforcement
of competencies and skills, improvement of dialogue and
consultation among artistic groups and cultural
administrators.
He said the Program was aimed at mobilising and sensitising
stakeholders in the development and promotion of culture as
well as the realization of relevant cultural initiatives.
Mr Gyan-Apenteng said CISP was undertaking an inventory of
the cultural sector, in order to understand its quantitative
and qualitative place in Ghana’s development.
This, he said would enable CISP increase the human and
institutional capacity of the sector, enable constant
dialogue and networking as well as create a congenial
environment for the public to appreciate the nation’s
culture and arts.
The National Coordinator said, the training would address
needs that had been expressed over a long period, noting
that skills and manpower development was one of the most
critical areas identified.
Mr. Gyan-Apenteng said participants would be taken through
basic book keeping, proposal writing, monitoring and
evaluation and log frames to enable them to rationalize
their activities.
He entreated participants, to apply the knowledge they would
acquire to improve their works and transfer the knowledge to
the benefit of others.
Mr. Azaanab Waksman, Acting Brong Ahafo Regional Director of
the Centre for National Culture, noted that the training was
timely considering the challenges confronting the creative
sectors of Ghana’s economy.
He said not until recently, there was not any mechanism to
support independent artists/creators financially and to
boost production of cultural artefacts as the CISP held the
promise today.
GNA
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