Aburi Craft village; carved dreams
What started as a modest trade in the house of one Mallam Gyekyi more than three decades ago has today become the Aburi Craft Village, still in transition to becoming the preferred destination for authentic artefacts in West Africa.
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Nana Asabre Bempoe, who is now the Director and Founder of the Aburi Craft Village, had no idea that the craft he learnt during vacations could today become a source of livelihood for many in and around Aburiman.
The Aburi Craft Village, according to Nana Bempoe who is also the co-founder of the Aburi Industrial Centre, had travelled the mile, and the journey had only been recently made meaningful by the support of the government, institutions and individuals.
Artefacts
Artefacts are pieces usually used for decoration, but some designs are steeped in deep-rooted cultural practices and identifiable to a particular region or country.
Like other antiques, artefacts are cherished by their owners, particularly those handed down from generations.
Artefacts at the Aburi Craft Village are said to be modern, and creative works of members, though sometimes with a stint of cultural and historical influence.
The work is tedious, requiring enormous dexterity and patience.
From raw wood, an idea of two lovers emerges and so does a horse with silver and golden skin. Still, a woman with a baby strapped at the back and another breastfeeding is seen on the wall, thanks to the carvers.
Artefacts also come in key holders, wall hangings, masks and statues, and some serve as good souvenirs.
Background
Work on the Aburi Craft Village, initiated by the Aburihene, Otoobuor Djan Kwasi II, started around 2006 under the then Nsawam District Assembly.
Prior to that, it was known as the Antique Village, established by Nana Bempoe to train unemployed youth in Aburi in wood carving for free.
The project was scheduled to be executed in three phases.
According to Otoobuor, who is the Chairman of the Aburi Craft Village, it was shelved for many years due to an alleged pilfering of the funds.
Work resumed in 2010 during which 116 shops were built under the first phase with (EDIF) funding through the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
Today, phases one and two have been completed with the entire craft village paved and a sizeable restaurant and a place of convenience provided for visitors.
Recently, the Ministry of Trade and Industry renovated the two meeting halls built by the Christian Council of Ghana in 1990.
Membership
With about 200 members from Aburi, Volta Region, Ashanti Region and even Nigeria, the Aburi Craft Village, according to the Director, Nii Amartey Laryea, attracts scores of visitors from home and abroad.
"Our market is a seasonal one as we receive more European visitors during summer," he stated.
Currently, all 116 shops have been allocated but 80 people are operating now, he stated.
Old technology disincentive
Mr Laryea said with appropriate technology, members would be positioned to compete favourably on the international market.
"We have a high demand because we have the designs, but we need power tools such as ban saw, plainers and sanders to replace the obsolete knives and adzes which require enormous manpower and are slow,” he stated.
"We are competing with the world but we lack the technology," Mr Amartey stressed.
He stated that it was about time that their members saw the work as a business and not just something to butter their bread.
"The job is dynamic. People see arts as something that they can do to earn a living but if you think about it as a business, then yes, you can make it,” he stated.
Third phase
"With the completion of this phase, the village would be a one-stop shop for quality, timeless designs and authentic artefacts for the sub-region," Mr Amartey stated.
According to him, the Ministry of Trade and Industry was already showing its commitment to the project.
The third and final phase of the project involves the construction of a carvers’ hall, which will serve as a production room for all carvers in the village, a theatre, banks and offices.
Visitors to the village would also have the pleasure of viewing the cascading hills and valleys of the planes in and around the village through a telescope to be installed as part of the third phase.