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Exhibitors at PANAFEST bazaar bemoan low publicity and
patronage
Cape Coast, July 29, Ghanadot/GNA
- Exhibitors at the 2009 PANAFEST Expo/Bazaar at the Jubilee
(Victoria) Park in Cape Coast have complained about low
sales and attributed this to low publicity given to the
event this year.
The exhibitors, who also blamed the organisers for poor
organisation, claimed that they would not be able to re-coup
the money they paid as fees for their participation and
vowed never to participate in the event again should the
trend continue.
The exhibitors, who expressed these sentiments in interviews
with the GNA, said they paid GH¢280.00 for double stands and
GH¢140.00 for single stands to mount their wares.
PANAFEST, which is a bi-annual event, is this year being
celebrated under the theme “Uniting the African family:
communicating the African reality”.
Mohammed Suleman, a Ghanaian who is selling wood carvings,
said “I paid GH¢280.00 and incurred an additional cost to
transport my wares here but I doubt if I can even sell to
meet the cost before PANAFEST ends on Saturday”.
He criticised the organisers for not encouraging tourists to
visit the exhibition grounds to patronise their goods after
they had visited the Cape Coast Castle, adding that all
attempts to get them to address their grievances have
failed.
“After paying so much, the organisers have not even provided
any temporary structures for us to take our bath and the
toilet facilities provided are nothing to write home about”,
he said.
Mr Suleman said local people were patronising the event more
than foreign tourists and that the situation had compelled
he and his colleague exhibitors to reduce the prices of
their wares in order to make some sales.
Mr Michael Agyapong, also an exhibitor of wood carvings,
said “I came all the way from the Northern Region to display
my wares but I am disappointed in the organizers.”
He was of the view that entrance to the exhibition grounds
should have been free and that the entrance fee of one Ghana
cedi being charged may also be a factor for the low
patronage.
“How do you expect someone to pay money before coming in to
buy a product?” he queried, adding “this gate fee matter
must stop”.
A Nigerian exhibitor, Mr Eddie Adeniran who deals in African
fabrics and carvings, and who is participating in the expo
for the fourth time, said PANAFEST had been organised better
in previous years.
He said although sales are low this year, he was not much
disturbed and expressed the hope to use the event to learn
from the experience and expertise of other exhibitors.
Another exhibitor who pleaded anonymity, said “sales are
very terrible. I have not sold a single item since I came
here. I work for a non-governmental organisation and we
participated in this event to sell beads to raise funds, but
I doubt if we can make any headway.”
A foreign tourist at the exhibition grounds, Ms Leah Jeftha,
told the GNA that a friend informed her about the event and
wondered why there has not been adequate publicity to
attract more tourists.
Some residents that the GNA talked to did not seem concerned
about the festival, while others said they would patronise
the bazaar in the evenings.
Mr Pee Stone, a painter, said he was aware of the programme
but said he did not think PANAFEST was of benefit to him.
GNA
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