Creativity and Creative Arts at Education Always

Creativity is at the heart of Ghanaian culture. From the kente cloth woven in Bonwire to the drumming at a Ga homowo festival, from the intricate beadwork of the Krobo people to the woodcarvings of Ahwiaa near Kumasi, Ghana’s artistic traditions are rich, diverse, and alive. Creative Arts at Education Always covers the Creative Arts and Design subject taught at JHS (Basic 7 to Basic 9) under the NaCCA curriculum.

Strands in JHS Creative Arts and Design

Visual Arts

  • Drawing: line drawing, observational drawing, and perspective
  • Painting: colour mixing, watercolour, and poster paint techniques
  • Printmaking: block printing, stencil printing, and mono-printing
  • Collage and mixed media art
  • Sculpture: modelling with clay and construction with found materials
  • Graphic design: lettering, poster design, and basic layout
  • Ghanaian visual arts traditions: Adinkra symbols, kente patterns, Asante gold weights, and their meanings

Performing Arts

  • Music: elements of music (rhythm, melody, harmony, tempo), reading musical notation
  • Ghanaian traditional music: instruments (fontomfrom, atumpan, gyil, kagan), drumming patterns
  • Choral music and school songs
  • Drama: storytelling, role play, improvisation, and scripted performance
  • Traditional Ghanaian drama and storytelling traditions
  • Dance: traditional Ghanaian dances from different regions and their social contexts

Textile and Fashion Design

  • Ghanaian textiles: kente, batik, tie-dye, adinkra, and smock weaving
  • Fabric decoration techniques: tie-dye, batik, and block printing
  • Basic sewing and needlework
  • Fashion design: sketching designs and understanding garment construction

Ceramics and Craft

  • Pottery: hand-building techniques using coil, pinch, and slab methods
  • Weaving: mat weaving, basket weaving, and kente strip weaving concepts
  • Beadwork and jewelry making in the Ghanaian tradition
  • Leatherwork: tools, techniques, and products

The Value of Creative Arts in Ghanaian Education

Creative Arts develops imagination, problem-solving, fine motor skills, and cultural pride. Students who engage deeply with the arts become more observant, more expressive, and more culturally grounded. Beyond the classroom, Ghana’s creative industries including music, fashion, film, and design are growing sectors of the economy with real career opportunities.

Explore our Creative Arts lessons and resources to develop your artistic skills and deepen your appreciation of Ghana’s rich creative heritage.