Accra, May 21, GNA - Mrs. Oboshie Sai-Cofie, Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, on Wednesday expressed government's commitment towards uniting the tourism and handicrafts sectors to alleviate poverty, especially among the youth and women. She said the two sectors depended on each other and there was the need to harness the collaboration based on a policy that promoted tourism in a broader sense.

Mrs. Sai-Cofie was speaking at the end of a regional workshop on Tourism and Handicrafts on the theme: "Two Key Sectors to Contribute to Poverty Reduction and Economic Development in Africa." The workshop which brought together over 150 participants from the tourism and handicrafts sectors from 25 African countries including Ghana, Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Benin, Morocco, Algeria, Cameroon and Mauritania is being organized by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in collaboration with the sector Ministry. The Minister, expressing her gratitude to participants, urged them to ensure that they implemented the various recommendations they had agreed on as a group.

Among the conclusions drawn from the workshop is the need for relevant organizations to develop research programmes aimed at enhancing training, marketing, pricing and quality products development. As part of the programme participants would be taken on a city tour of Accra. They would also proceed to the Eastern Region to tour selected tourists attractions including the Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa farm.