The role of gold in Ghana’s economic growth over the decades as well as its defining history as a cultural commodity, will be central to the US based organization, Initiative in Art and Culture’s (IAC) major gathering next week at the Bohemian National Hall in New York City.
Under the general theme of Eye on the Prize, the 15th annual three-day congregation is also a dedication to the country’s global stature in gold production and is partly dubbed, Ghana and Gold.
The congregants will be gold investors, of institutions of assayers and bullion generators, non-governmental regulators from The World Jewelry Confederation, The World Gold Council, the World Bank, Newmont, one of the world’s largest auctioneers of currency and gemstone fine art in Texas, Heritage Auctions, AngloGold Ashanti, Rio Grande of New Mexico and universities with interest in mining. It is at a time of huge world resurgence in gold investment by nations and banks on security of assets.
The Ghanaian historian and development specialist, Ivor Agyeman-Duah will give the keynote address in what the founding President of IAC, Dr. Lisa Koenigsberg describes as bringing his multiple skills as a central bank historian, museum economist involved in restitution and return of ancient gold ornaments aside been a consultant of multilateral projects involving the World Bank.
His chosen Keynote Address is Ghana and Gold: Path of the Antill. It will lead to major panel discussions among which will be reflections on Retaining Greater Value In-Country: Strategic Approaches. It will include former Senior Advisor, Office of Sanctions Coordination, US Department of State, Brad Brooks-Rubin, Senior Director of Newmont, Shari Cittleman, Head of Legal Operations, AngloGold Ashanti, Lucian Simmons, Director, Research Center for Responsible Mining, University of Sao Paolo, Jassi Munanka and the Editor in Chief of leading journal on gemstone pricing of the Gemworld International, Brecken Brandstater.
The conference theme according to Dr. Koenigsberg, was thoughtfully chosen for “as the precious metals, gemstones, and jewelry sectors face upheaval, whether political, military, economic, or technologic, we must keep our “eye on the prize,” a flourishing and unhabituated planet on which the centrality of heritage and artisanry is recognized.”
The IAC’s Award of the Eight Responsible Practice in Jewelry Leadership in the world for ethical sourcing and responsible practice and the Fifth award for Extraordinary Contributions to the Diamond and Jewelry Business among others would be given to distinguished individuals.
The President of Rio Grande, one of the world’s leading and oldest jewerly companies in New Mexico, Arien Gessner says, the IAC creates “the meaningful progress in the jewelry industry and starts with open dialogue purposeful collaboration. The Gold and Diamond Conference provides a vital forum where ideas are sparked, relationship are strengthened and the future of our craft is shaped.”
