The exploitation of art for the economic development of Ghana

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Date
1994-08-27
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Abstract
This thesis shows in various ways that the arts of Ghana are a potential resource base for the development of the country’s economy. This can be realised when due recognition, increased support and exploitation of art are considered as one of the topmost national priorities. The work shows by its detailed analysis, logical and philosophical, as well as scientific arguments and suggestions that, the scope and meaning of art embrace all, human endeavours which require skill and are aimed at sustaining and creating better living conditions. This thesis has extensively emphasized this point and dispelled the popular Ghanaian misconception of art as being mere “drawing. This thesis has shown further that art itself is an industry, whose pursuits, as exemplified in some artists, foster the creation, development and effective arganisatian of all the factors of production which are needed for general industrial growth in the Ghanaian economy. It proposes that such an industrial potential of art be made central to education and manpower training so that just like artists, Ghanaians in general may be better so inclined and self- motivated to initiate plans and actions towards their invdividual and social economic aspirations. It shows through many instances how this may be achieved. For example, it indicates that the knowledge and skills that education has endowed many Ghanaians constitute “capital” arid therefore such people are in themselves the “money” they need to initiate industrial activities. The discussions in this thesis also focus directly on the reappraisal of art within the context of enhancing the efficiency arid productivity of labour in offices, factories, urban commercial centres, etc. With regard to this, it draws government’s attention to policy-making as being a phericimenoni that requIres artistic acumen by which creative potentials for industrial arid national development could be inculcated into the citizens of the country. This thesis also emphasizes the need for the establishment of an industrial design corisultancy service to aid industrialists arid manufacturers in the prc.per design of Bhanaian products so as to promote their sale, both locally and internationally. / The work also shows that all developments, either in science or technology, are influenced by artistic and psychological factors that underlie how people think about themselves and what they consider to be the divine sources of their skills arid abilities The thesis gives a glimpse of the future state of affairs and hopes that Its suggestions and recommendations are adopted to guide the on-going process of nation-building.
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A thesis submitted to the Board of Postgraduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award of the Degree of Master of Arts in African Art, 1994
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