Ghana Artisans Association To Stage Nationwide Demonstration Against Government Over Neglect.

The Ghana Artisans Associations, made up of over 20 different artisan groups across Ghana with numerical strength of over 5000 have sent a warning signal to the government over what they described as neglect and filled campaign promises and hinted on an upcoming massive nationwide demonstration if things remain the same.

Addressing the media, the chairman for the association, Mr. Osei Asibey hinted that the current government led by his excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo – Addo in his 2016 campaign, promised Artisans in the country heaven but now he is giving them hell.

Expressing their worries, the Chairman outlined four major reasons Artisans in the country feel abandoned and now have no option then spits fire to the government, he said, according to their research done on mechanics (fitters) in the country indicates that,

• 47 – 49% of mechanics have lost their jobs from 2017 to the first half of 2019 due to road constructions and others government’s projects.
• This is because mechanics in the country don’t have a permanent place of work after apprenticeship due to that many have turn scatters on peoples land and roadside mechanics, meanwhile the government promised them a permanent place work.
• Heavy electricity bills also forcing many out of their jobs.
• Many craftsmen in the country have now turned into “Trotro” drivers and collectors including women, research shows that 5 artisans abandoned their work everyday.

The above reasons and more have made Artisanship in the country no longer attractive to the youth and if things remain unchanged in the next 7 years the country will loose it artisanship power, Mr. Osei Asibey added

The association in the quest of giving artisans in the country a permanent place to work, the association in their own effort have acquired over 300 acres of already graded land which now need the government support in terms electricity, water and roads to the site to enable members move in to settle.

Finally the association is given the government 14 days to respond to their plight or face them on the other side.

Austin Ofori Addo/ritefmonline.org/austinofori.addo@gmail.com