Call for registration: Ghana's National Folklore Board

"Are you an entrepreneur, group or association whose activities involve aspects of folklore?" the body asked on social media. "The National Folklore Board has an exciting initiative to create the enabling environment for you to operate!"

As created under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, the National Folklore Board is mandated by law to administer, register, promote and protect Ghanaian expressions of folklore on behalf of the president and for the people of Ghana.

The current call is part of several plans for the year by the body, which has also announced and promoted a project tagged the Did You Know? series.

In launching the project, the body's acting director, Nana Adjoa Adobea Asante, said Did You Know? would increase awareness of Ghana's wealth of folklore, create jobs and revenue, as well as help combat the exploitation of Ghana's folklore tradition by foreign establishments. Its focus includes the country's music, dance, art, designs, names, signs and symbols, performances, ceremonies, architectural forms and handicraft.

"In this Year of Return, set aside to commemorate 400 years since the first African slaves left the shores of West Africa and in line with the government’s promise to maximise revenue and create jobs through promotion and protection of our folklore (including the protection of Kente and Adinkra Symbols) from illicit exploitation by foreign interests, the National Folklore Board makes a clarion call on Ghanaians, both home and abroad, to return to our identity, our pride, our folklore," Asante said.

The body announced that it had a meeting with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation to discuss the Folklore Documentation Project. It is also looking into creating folklore clubs in schools across the country.

Individuals or establishments looking to take part in the registration drive by the National Folklore Board are required to fill this form.