Accra (Greater Accra), 16 March '99 -

Mr Ebo Hawkson, Deputy Chairman, National Commission on Culture (NCC), on Monday appealed to the public to attach more importance to cultural activities, at the opening of a two-week craft workshop for more than 100 deprived children in the Manpong Okai electoral area of Accra. The workshop, organised by the NCC, is aimed at equipping the children with employable skills in basket and straw weaving, bamboo carvings, and batik making, among others. Mr Hawkson said there is a general perception that culture should not be given any priority as people do not attach much importance to cultural activities. He said because of this attitude, the commission is the least funded among all government establishments. "People should not look at culture as only drumming and dancing. Culture goes beyond that. "The non-traditional exports, including crafts and music which fall under culture, have the potential of contributing to national development", Mr Hawkson said. The NCC chairman appealed to other agencies and organisations to assist the commission to organise similar workshops. Mr Yaw Poku Dankwa, Director, Community Youth Cultural Centre, said the centre, since its establishment in 1990, has been training street children, especially in the Maamobi area, in basic skills and it has now embarked on an outreach programme to give other deprived children the same training.