Sunyani, March 17, 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.