Ghana is endowed with abundant natural resources which have played a key role in the development efforts of the country. Gold is undoubtedly a major foreign exchange earner for Ghana’s socio-economic development.

In the quest to make Ghana a Jewellery hub in West Africa and beyond, the Jewellers Association of Ghana launched a Gold Statement dubbed: Turning Ghana into a Jewellery Hub In West Africa and beyond. This is to remind the country that the Goldsmith and the Jewellery sector is alive to the vision of turning Ghana into a hub.

Speaking to Cedidollar.com on why Ghanaians still import jewellery even when the Jewellery industry here in Ghana is doing well, the President of Jewellers Association of Ghana, Foster Kofi Annag  Mawusi, said Ghana was initially unable to meet the high demand due to the laborious handcrafting of the jewellery which slows down production.

He said though it used to be a challenge, the sector has introduced technologies and trained more jewellers to boost the rate of production.

Mr Foster Annag revealed that though the Jewellery industry exports jewellery to other countries, its exportation is on a very low rate.

He said the sector will in the near future export more jewellery as soon as they are able to produce more to meet the demand.

The Head of Mineral Science Department under the testing Directorate (GSA) Mrs Genevieve Baah Mantey added that the Ghana Standard Authority is putting measures in place to ensure that the sector achieves the vision of turning Ghana into a Jewellery hub.

Touching on job creation by the industry, the Chief Executive Officer of Rapport Services Mrs Judy Nakuor Crayam said job creation will be widened.

She said the industry is setting up more refineries and jewellery factories to create more job opportunities for the many unemployed youths.

Some exhibitors at the programme encouraged Ghanaians to buy made-in-Ghana Jewellery, silver and gold; adding that silver and gold last forever.

Sefenya Amenyo Adadevoh an exhibitor from the Adorn Jewellery and Decor, confirmed that Ghanaians import more Jewellery because previously jewellers in the country couldn’t make quality finishing.

She assured Ghanaians that the industry has improved and able to produce topnotch finishing jewellery.