In Co-operation with and Promotion of Rural Artisans in Ghana

(And what does that mean...?)

We are a small arts-based company in Northern BC (Sinclair Mills on the Upper Fraser River)

and have partnered with SPB UNI Commerz Ltd. based in Ghana, and Adepa (http://www.adepa-em.de)

based in Germany, to import African artifacts in support of mainly rural artisans, many of them women.

The alternative for rural people is to migrate to the cities, in Ghana mainly Accra,

which suffers from air and water pollution, open sewers, traffic jams, massive overcrowding,

and no security for women and girls in terms of exploitation in the city slums.

SPB UNI Commerz employs 12 Ghanaian people (5 in Accra, 1 in Kumasi and 6 in Bolgatanga) who work

directly with the rural communities in producing and distributing the goods. ADEPA distributes the artifacts

in Europe. The distribution line is kept at a personal level, based on established relationships and trust.

The price we pay is a fair market value of $8.00 CAD. The average Ghanaian person

coming from the rural communities into the city has to survive on roughly $0.50 CAD per day.

We sell the baskets for $40.00 + GST/PST = $44.80 CAD. Much of that goes toward shipping costs.

The plan is to raise enough capital, eventually, to fill and import a container load of merchandise.

Thus all income goes towards paying for the cost of developing and re-investing in the partnerships.

Competition in a global market is fierce. We believe that small scale, community-to-community

solutions can contribute, protect and elevate quality of life, thus facilitate a more sustainable lifestyle for all involved.

As for the durability of the baskets, we met a couple in Smithers this Summer,

whom had lived in Ghana in the late 60's. They brought back Bolga Baskets and still use them to this day.

I love to use mine for grocery shopping as alternative to plastic bags.

If you are interested in impressions from Ghana, check the slide show below from our visit in 2006.

Granville had a photography and collage exhibition at CNC Library on Secondary School Career Day

Open House during Black History Month Celebration, February this year called Ghana-Lore.

If you are still looking for last minute gifts - we have just received a shipment of Bolga Baskets from Ghana.

They were made by Women's Collectives in the Bolga Tanga area of Northern Ghana. Local grasses, natural plant

and mineral dyes, and African goat skins are used. The baskets are very durable and we use them for

shopping, at the Farmer's Market, as overnight bags, for magazines, knitting etc.....

Check out the URL below for the new Bolga Basket catalogue.

In Co-operation with and Promotion of Rural Artisans in Ghana.

Peace & Love.....Birgit & Granville