Magazine artisans cry to government over intentional neglect making their jobs unpopular

Some artisans at the Kumasi magazine in the Ashanti region have expressed worries over how they have been neglected by the subsequent governments.

Speaking to Soireenews,  the group of master artisans at the Kumasi magazine exhibited big-time disappointment in the successive governments for continuously neglecting their work, and for the matter all artisanship in the country as needless.

"Our observations from the various government since this 4th republic reveals and it's a clear indication that artisanal workers are usually left out in any consideration".

They back their accusations by indicating that there's not a single government that has ever given encouragement for people to learn artisanship or apprenticeship since it's recourse to education. They also hinted that there's not a single trades and industries minister who has ever met to discuss general issues with real artisans on the ground, apart from visiting them during election times to garner votes.

Chief Executive Officer for Daily Sure engineering services and treasurer for zone 18 garages in the Suame Magazine, Mr Musah Malik a.k.a Wustars, speaking to the media expressed bitterness over governments' deliberate neglect of artisans and how the development is collapsing their work.

According to him, he's very much disappointed in the successive governments, especially the current one, for not seeing anything good in them, and deliberately making their work unpopular hence making people lose interest in the work.

He revealed that taking over of artisanship from Ghana into neighbouring countries like Togo, Burkina Faso, Mali, LA Côte devoir etc is adversely affecting the country when it comes to revenue generation.

He added that " these foreigners troop in to Suame Magazine to learn this our traditional craft while our youths keep on choosing Western education after which most of them become a burden in the society following graduation due to unemployment.

"Most youths in Ghana are no more interested in learning artisanship or apprenticeship. This is because the government only keep on promoting secular education as if it's the only source of wealth. Most people acquire certificates and sadly comes back to stay home.

"Technical education, apprenticeship or artisanship have been totally discarded as if they are of no more use in the country. The government can do only one thing by just promoting the need for people to also choose technical or artisanship as another good option, and the youth will patronize".

Chairman Wustars appealed to Ghanian youths to also patronize apprenticeship or artisanship since it puts heavy bread on their future tables.

Mr Kwame Amoa aka Chairman Z, Chairman for Zone 18 adding his voice revealed that that the situation has been very worrying. He said these foreigners who come to learn from Ghana only do that to build it strongly for their future.

"We are sadly losing our artisanship to foreigners. When we are dead today, who will replace us in Ghana? Most Ghanaian youths are losing interest in learning apprenticeship or artisanship due to the government's inability to make them attractive. The media also has a bigger role in all these issues," he said.

The passionate Chairman suggested that the government can generate more revenue by constructing industrial villages for artisans across the country, and also make things attractive.

"There's nothing better than building an industrial village for artisans and making our work attractive. This will help you generate a lot of revenue," he said.
 
Lastly, the Chairman called on the government and its minister for trade and industry, Honourable Alan Kwadwo Kyeremateng to give immediate attention to craftsmen in the country in order to witness a speedy transformation.

"It's sad to mention that about 90 per cent of workers here are not paying taxes. This is due to negligence. I confidently tell you without fear," he shockingly revealed.