Smock and Kente weavers in the Bono East Region are calling for increased investment and financial support to expand production and strengthen the local textile industry as Ghana marks its annual Heritage Month.
Heritage Month, celebrated throughout March in Ghana, promotes national unity, cultural identity and patriotism, culminating in the country’s Independence Day celebrations on March 6.
The initiative encourages citizens to wear traditional attire such as Kente and Batakari while promoting local cuisine and cultural practices.
Weavers in the Bono East Region say the celebration highlights the economic potential of Ghana’s traditional textile industry but insist that limited access to capital and expensive raw materials continue to constrain production.
In an interview with the media, artisans said targeted government policies and investment partnerships could significantly improve production capacity and help position the fabrics for export markets.
They explained that both Kente and the traditional northern smock, popularly known as Batakari, remain key symbols of Ghana’s cultural identity and have growing potential in tourism, fashion and cultural exports if the industry receives adequate support.
Mr. Safianu Ali, President of the Techiman Smock Weavers Association, said limited access to financing remains one of the biggest challenges facing local producers.
According to him, many artisans continue to rely on personal savings and small contributions from association members to sustain their businesses.
“Inaccessibility to financial support to expand our businesses is a major challenge. Most of us depend on our small capital to continue operating,” he said.
Mr. Ali added that linking the weavers to investors and international markets could help scale up production and create jobs within the local textile value chain.
Some weavers also highlighted the rising cost of raw materials used in producing the traditional fabrics, which they say affects production levels and pricing competitiveness.
Mr. Abubakari Nurudeen, another smock weaver, commended government initiatives such as the National Apprenticeship Programme for helping young people acquire technical skills in traditional crafts.
However, he urged authorities to expand the programme and increase financial support to artisans to ensure that more youth can enter the trade.
He also called on banks and other financial institutions to introduce affordable credit facilities for weavers to help them purchase raw materials and modernise their production processes.
Mr. Nurudeen further encouraged Ghanaians to increase patronage of locally made smock and Kente fabrics to sustain the industry.
Madam Veronica Amoamah, a Kente weaver based in Tuobodom, expressed concern about declining patronage of the traditional fabric, noting that fewer people are choosing to wear Kente regularly.
She urged the government to introduce policies that promote the use of traditional fabrics within formal institutions to revive demand and preserve Ghana’s cultural heritage.
Madam Amoamah suggested that encouraging workers in public and private institutions to wear Kente on designated days could help boost the local industry while strengthening national identity.
A visit to the Bono East Regional office of the Centre for National Culture revealed that only a few weavers were present at their workstations during the day.
Industry checks indicate that many artisans operate in nearby towns such as Kintampo, Nkoranza and Atebubu, where traditional weaving remains an important economic activity.
The weavers say increased investment, improved access to financing and stronger market linkages could help transform the sector into a more competitive cultural and economic asset for Ghana.
