Accra, Oct 21, GNA - An art exhibition, featuring the works of Martin Dartey and Caroline Monda-Dartey, Ghanaian and Kenyan artists respectively, opened on Wednesday at the Alliance Francaise in Accra. On display at the exhibition, presented by the Alliance Francaise and French Embassy, titled ""SAFARI" A Journey of West and East", are acrylic on canvas, collages, beads and traditional jewellery.

The French Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Jean-Michel Berrit opened the exhibition, which runs from October 20 to November 20, 2004. Mr Abdon Berthelot, Director of Alliance Francaise, Accra, said the presenters were encouraging cultural diversity, by the exhibition of works of a Kenyan alongside a Ghanaian.

Later in an interview with Mr Dartey who was former Lecturer in Art at the College of Art, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, recommended that Government should establish a Ministry of Arts and Culture, in addition to the National Commission on Culture, to give more attention to the development of the Arts in the country.

He noted the role or arts in the socio-economic development of the country such as employment and revenue generation and said art products could become a number one non-traditional export when given more governmental support.

He advocated intra African trade in artworks, rather than with Europe, as a means of getting good prices. He urged all hotels to promote Ghanaian art works. 21 Oct. 04