Browsing by Author "Kotoku, Worlanyoh"

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    Ghanaian jewellery industry: its problems and solutions
    (2008-08-10) Kotoku, Worlanyoh
    Many developing countries including Ghana possess significant deposits of precious and non-precious metals, materials, and stones, but many of these natural treasures are merely exported as raw materials. Although the countries including Ghana have an ancient tradition of jewellery production and a large handicraft capacity for manufacturing, jewellery is only exported in very modest quantities, if any at all. This potential can be exploited if the problems in the industry are identified and solved. Ghanaian goldsmiths and other jewellers are all known for their important jewellery manufacturing and have raised their work to the Master craft level, taking on apprentices who help them to produce their works including jewellery. Jewellery is widespread in all cultures in Ghana. The gems and jewellery often say something about general identity, ethnic identity or the wearer’s status. It also reveals the culture in which they originate. Every imaginable resource and item can be used in jewellery production. Be it artificial or synthetic material like plastic, broken bottle etc, or natural materials like leather, animal bone, seeds, coconut shells egg shells, metals like gold, silver, brass, iron, and even clay and tree backs, and also bamboo. In the course of carrying out this work, surveys were carried out on both producers and consumers of jewellery products. The researcher at the end of the work, has unearthed as many problems and solutions as possible. The following methods of research were used to come out with this thesis: Questionnaires to producers and consumers, personal interviews, documents including books, journals, magazines, newspapers, and periodicals were also be used as regards to the review of related literature and Internet. This research project covered Accra, Ho, Kumasi, Koforidua and Cape Coast, and it is hoped that with the recommendations implemented, and the government playing its role, the jewellery industry in Ghana would live up to its desired expectation. Jewellers must also know that they have a role to play in the success of the industry.
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    The Ghanaian jewellery industry: it’s problems and solutions
    (2001-12-13) Kotoku, Worlanyoh
    It is probably unusual for anyone to write mainly on problems and solutions to the Ghanaian Jewellery Industry. Other writers have however, mentioned problems and solutions in the Jewellery industry in their writing, but not in much details s the present author. In writing therefore o “The Ghanaian Jewellery Industry: Its Problem and Solutions”, the author was motivated by the fact that others who have written about the in industry, have done so from artistic point of view. T ere is therefore the need to look at the thesis as a document that when published, would serve as a better reference book for researchers, craftsmen, and hobbyists. It can also be used as a t aching aid, and also by policy makers. This is because this thesis is more informative than those of previous writers. Because many of the practising goldsmiths, another Jewellery manufacturer are illiterate, they do not keep written records on their productions and operations. It was therefore very difficult getting information from them. The goldsmiths therefore, relied mainly on their memory to give any information to the researcher. Also, near y all goldsmiths and Jewellers, because of suspicion, were not ready to give out information or data. The writer also relied mainly on other written materials from libraries, newspapers, interviews and personal observations to come out with the thesis. Institutions contacted for the research are from libraries like the British Council Library, College of Art Library (KNUST), KNUST main Library, the Ghana Library Board, and USAID Library. The following institutions were also contacted for data: CEPS, NBSSI, PMMC, GEPC, IRS, GIPC, and Federation of Ghanaian Jewellers, Local Radio Stations, Insurance Companies, and G.T.B.