About 40 traditional caterers and kente weavers in the Ashanti region have received training in social media and digital marketing.
This is to boost the informal sector and as well help artisans to leverage on the digital economies to create decent jobs.
The training, spearheaded by the Africa Tourism Research Network (ATRN) and International Labour Organization (ILO), aimed at the critical role digitisation plays in the tourism and hospitality sectors.
President of Africa Tourism Research Network (ATRN), Emmanuel Frimpong, addressing a 4-day workshop underlined the need to promote artisanship as it plays a critical role in creating decent jobs for the youth.
He challenged handicraft workers to take advantage of the benefits of social media marketing to enhance the creative and arts sector.
Regional Director of Ghana Tourism Authority, Frederick Adjei-Rudolph on the other hand underscored the need for the participants to acknowledge and accept the role digitisation and social media now play in their work.
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He, however, urged them to take advantage of the workshop to improve on their work while at the same time benefiting from the opportunities available on social media platforms.
He stressed “if you sit back and watch without taking advantage of digitisation, your jobs will be gone in no time.”
On his part, Frank Kwasi Adetor, the National Project Coordinator of ILO’s Global Program on Skills and Lifelong Learning reiterated the pivotal role digital marketing and social media skills play in promoting and sustaining businesses.
He admonished the two trade associations to take advantage of the training by imparting the knowledge and skills acquired to others.
“You can only succeed in transcending the borders of Ghana by conforming to and upholding international standards in your business operations,” Mr. Adetor further advised the participants.
The training workshop forms part of the Global Program on Skills and Lifelong Learning/SKILL UP Ghana Project. It is an ILO initiative in collaboration with the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training and funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation.
By Maxwell Otoo|Onua FM|Onuaonline.com
