ACCRA, GHANA - Ghana has been chosen to represent West Africa at this year’s National Black Arts Festival (NBAF) to be held in Atlanta, Georgia, in the USA, from July 14 to 23.

Ghana’s contingent to the festival will include about 120 exhibitors and vendors of cultural and indigenous artifacts and art pieces.

The festival, one of the premier cultural events held in the United States every year, attracts audiences of all ages and cultural backgrounds with the aim of linking, inspiring and transforming people through high quality artistic presentations.

Local organisers, Proffworld Link Consults Limited, told journalists at Tema that Ghana was going there for the third time since its inception in 1988.

The Chief Executive Officer of Proffworld Link Consult, Mr Hugh K. Aryee, said the Ghanaian participants would showcase Africa’s monumental contributions to the world of culture.

“Exhibits will include artifacts, traditional food and cultural performances and demonstrations,” he said.
Trainees from some teacher training schools and other institutions in the US were also expected to be exposed to some of the works of the Africans through the demonstrations, he added.

Mr Aryee said there would also be side attractions in the form of music, visual arts, dance, theatre, films and other activities.

Mr Aryee said the aim of the exhibition was consistent with the goals of the organisers which was to celebrate the greatness of the African Diaspora.

Unlike others, exhibitions at the festival would have no sales restrictions, he said, and added that the organisers expected enormous economic gains for the exhibitors.

Asked about the arrangement of visas for Ghanaian participants, Mr Hugh Aryee said, all registered companies would undergo screening before their interviews at the US Embassy in Accra such as the inspection of company documents and others.

“We are also making sure that all prospective participants endeavour to abide by the laid down procedures in their applications,” he explained.

He said as a private company,it was dedicated to providing a solid platform to showcase Ghanaian competencies in various sectors of business, trade and investment, which if properly harnessed, could make Ghana a springboard of business in Africa.
Source: Samuel Doe Ablordeppey, Daily Graphic