Sharon Dede Padi, a painter, has called on the government to create opportunities for artists in the country to exhibit their crafts to the target market.

According to her, artists are less valued in the country and are losing their market worth, making painting not lucrative in Ghana.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Max Morning Show in Accra on Thursday, Padi indicated that artists were not being valued for their worth.

In Ghana, if you want to sell art for Gh¢20,000, a typical Ghanaian will ask whether he or she has fed himself or herself. It is not their fault though; it’s because of the system,” she said.

Padi therefore charged the government to create an enabling environment for artists to thrive.

The tourism ministry is improving. Now, we have gotten a bit of attention because those who are in the ministry are creative people, and they know how to involve the sector players. The tourism minister, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, sent me to Senegal in November for the Ecofest to exhibit my craft. There, my value as an artist was met because no matter the price, the foreigners bought it due to its worth.

If we get more of this and those who understand the art to create opportunities for artists to exhibit their art outside, it will help the industry to grow in the right direction, whilst the artists will also see their market worth,” she added.