Kente Weavers in Ashanti Region Cry Out for Government Support

Youth in the Ashanti region who are engaged in the traditional craft of kente weaving are calling on the government to provide them with urgent support. The high cost of materials, particularly cotton and thread, is threatening to collapse their businesses, leaving many young weavers without a source of income.

According to the weavers, the high price of materials has made it impossible for them to sustain their businesses. “Kente is our major traditional wear, but no specific attention has been given to it,” one weaver lamented. “At least, the government can extend a hand to us through the Minister of Culture and Creative Arts, so that we can get encouraged.”

The weavers also expressed their frustration at the lack of regulation and support for their industry. “We don’t have any leader who is regulating our work and also checking our welfare,” one weaver said. This lack of support has left them vulnerable to exploitation, with buyers offering them low prices for their wares.

“We can weave kente that will cost 400 cedis, but when we go to the market, due to hardship, they will buy it for 350 cedis,” one weaver revealed to Sompa FM’s Bawah Baidoo. This significant loss of income is making it difficult for the weavers to sustain themselves.

The weavers believe that government support could make a significant difference in their lives. “Government can invest in it and support the youth, so that we can weave more for the government to export it and make money for the country,” one weaver suggested. This investment could not only help to preserve the traditional craft of kente weaving but also provide a source of income for young people in the Ashanti region.

Source: Bawah Baidoo