GRi Arts & Culture Ghana 30 – 07 - 2001

 

Exhibition of late Ghanatta's works opens

 

Foreign participation in Panafest running into problems

   

PANAFEST to be celebrated annually

 

 

Exhibition of late Ghanatta's works opens

Accra (Greater Accra) 30 July 2001

 

Professor George Hagan, Chairman of the National Commission on Culture on Thursday called on artists to draw inspiration from pioneers and help change the direction of society by their creativity.

He told the opening ceremony of an exhibition of cartoons and drawings of the late Nana Yaw Boakye Ghanatta in Accra that the toils of the likes of Nana Yaw Boakye must not be in vain. "The flame he lit must continue to burn to direct the society today."

            The late Boakye Ghanatta, a noted artist who first introduced cartoons and comics into Ghanaian newspapers and magazines, died early this year.

He said his death was a challenge to all who belong to his choice of vocation, adding: "This challenge becomes deeper when we consider that economic trends of this time militate against appreciation of the arts and the ability to create."

 Prof. Hagan reminded artists that pioneers, who ventured into the arts as profession, cared very little about fiscal and monetary returns.

            "They considered the psychological healing process they offered to society as beneficial and they were satisfied that they recorded the world's view of the immediate environment with its people on canvas, wood, metal and leather".

     These, Prof. Hagan said, were sharper resource materials for education, which are still treasured.

He called on civil society organisations to assist the youth to discover their talents, saying some of the street children and young men and women selling dog chains are potential geniuses who need to be moulded.

    He said the Commission would revive all arts associations, which will be avenues for transmission of knowledge and creativity.

    Mr Daniel Manford, Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the Ghana Association of Visual Arts, described the late Ghanatta as a man whose success in exhibitions and commissioned work enabled him to establish the Ghanatta College of Arts and Design to train and create employment for the youth who had interest in art. The exhibition ends on August 8.

GRi../

 

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Foreign participation in Panafest running into problems

Cape Coast (Central Region) 30 July 2001

 

The highly anticipated foreign participation in Panafest 2001 is running into problems as most of such participants had not arrived in the country by Friday July 27, due to delayed flight schedules from their various destinations, particularly the United States.

     As a result, the official opening of the ' Efua Sutherland Children's Camp' expected to attract many youth groups from the US and across the Diaspora, scheduled for Friday as the curtain-raiser for activities of the festival, has had to be rescheduled for Monday.

     These came to light when the Ghana News Agency visited the Centre for National Culture (CNC) at Cape Coast where a Trade Exposition was also to be opened on Friday, as part of the festival, but had to be re-scheduled from 12 noon to 1 PM and in spite of the importance of the festival, there was virtually no sight of the about 5,000 participants whowere expected to attend the 10-day event.

    The Executive Secretary of the Panafest Foundation, Kohain Halevi, however, gave the assurance that all activities in connection with the festival will go ahead as scheduled.

GRi../

 

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PANAFEST to be celebrated annually

Cape Coast (Central Region) 30 July 2001

 

The International Board of the Pan-African Historical Theatre Festival (PANAFEST) is considering a proposal to make the celebration an annual affair, Mr Kojo Yankah, Chairman of the Board announced at a grand durbar of chiefs and queen mothers to mark the formal opening of Panafest 2001 at Cape Coast on Saturday.

     The festival, which was first celebrated in 1992, has since been celebrated biennially. 

     A large number of people, including, ministers of state, members of parliament, and Africans from the Diaspora attended the durbar.

     Mr Yankah described Panafest as the most dynamic festival in Africa and urged African political leaders to assist in sustaining and promoting it.

     He thanked the African Union, the government of Ghana and various groups and organisations for supporting the festival and urged Africans in the Diaspora to continue to participate in the festival, which aims at reuniting them with their motherland.

     In a message, Morena Moholo Mota, Paramount Chief of Batlokoa Nation of Free State, of the Republic of South Africa, praised Ghanaians for preserving and promoting their cultural heritage, and observed that "a nation without culture is like a tree without roots.

     The Paramount chief, described Ghana as a model for democracy and traditional leadership, and these he said, played a significant role in her fight against foreign domination.

     He proposed a cultural exchange programme between the people of Ghana and South Africa, and hoped the government will solicit the support of his country in its developmental objectives.

     Mr Fritz Jackson, Jamaican Minister of Education, Youth and Culture, noted that although Africans are separated by attempts to devalue their rich cultural heritage, the people of Jamaica, will forever remain a part of the African family.

    He recounted the grief brought about by the slave trade and by the separation, but was happy that the celebration of Panafest has become a period of joy.

    The chairman of the National Commission on Culture, Professor George Hagan also stressed the need for Africans to come together to find solution to their problems.

    In his welcoming address, the Central Regional Minister, Mr Isaac Edumadze, recounted efforts being made to preserve the country's cultural and historical heritage to enhance the celebration of Panafest and Emancipation Day, and urged all Africans in the Diaspora to support to make their celebration "uplifting and enriching".

GRi../

 

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