First lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo on Wednesday opened a commerce and art and painting exhibition at the Achimota Melcom Shopping Mall in Accra.

The exhibition is the first of its kind, a collaborated effort between the Melcom Group and Big Apple Arts Gallery, an artists management, market and research organization based in Tema.

The event which will be on till December is expected to feature works of 13 artists including Larry Otoo, a renowned Ghanaian artist.

The rest are Eric Safori, Maxwell Boadi, Seth Alipo, Ismail Isshaq, Kwasi Agyare, Deku, Ayi Mensah Odei Nyamekye, Daniel Ametepe Kukubor, Osei Bonsu and Esther Khaki Ceaser.

The Founder of the Big Apple Gallery, Andy Solomon, said he chose to partner Melcom because it is the leading supermarket where many people shop and that will be a unique opportunity for art lovers to purchase their favourite artwork.

Some of the artists will have one month to exhibit their while others will be given two weeks.

He said the idea is to promote the work of the artists and also to create awareness so that Ghanaians will appreciate the arts.

On his part Director of Communication of the Melcom Group, Godwin Avenorgbo, said some years ago people walked into departmental stores to admire artwork either paintings, photography, sculpture and purchase them, but the situation is not the same now.

He said there were regular art exhibitions at the Arts Center that attracted large public attendance.

According to him, Ghana Industry and Technology Fair, INDUTEC and other fairs had annual exhibition had stands for the arts.

The Melcom Exhibition is aimed at offering opportunities to budding artists to create works that can sell Ghana locally and internationally.

Mrs Akufo-Addo was presented with her husband's portrait as a gift.