Odumase Krobo, Oct. 25, GNA -The Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture Mr Asum Ahinsan has announced that the Government would support the local industry to grow in order to generate more employment. He said this at the first Ghana International Beads Festival which opened at Odumase Krobo in the Lower Manya District.

The festival, which aims at promoting the Ghanaian beads industry is also geared at promoting intercultural dialogue, preserving the culture of beads, selling beads to tourists and seeking new avenues to the world market. The fair has attracted more than 200 vendors and 100 beads manufacturers.

Mr Ahinsan applauded the decision to hold the festival, which would not only promote the beads-making business but also provide an opportunity for tourists to visit other tourist sites in the area and to generate more revenue for the District.

He said whereas beads in olden Ghana were of archaeological value, a teeming number of modern bead makers, designers and vendors had risen over the decades out of a definite desire for self assertion in the art. He assured the public that his ministry would support the beads industry to expand and more so provide the necessary support to manufacturers of the product to increase their production capacities. The Head of Cooperation of the European Union to Ghana, Mr Kurt Cornelis, in a speech read on his behalf, commended the organizers for holding the festival and said it would open up a new chapter in Ghana's culture and beads industry.

He said such a culture of diversity and intercultural dialogue as displayed by the beads brings people together and unites the whole of society.

Mr Kurt added that culture, should be regarded as a set of distinctive spiritual and material traits that characterized the whole society.

Present at the function included, the former Chairman of the Centre for National Culture, Professor Hagan, former Managing Director of the Graphic Communication Group Limited, Mr Kwasi Gyan Appenteng, the District Chief Executive for Lower Manya, Mr Issac Agbo-Tetteh and District Chief Executive for Upper Manya, Mr Joseph Tetteh Angmor. 25 Oct. 10