By Patrick Ofoe Nudzi
Accra, March 27, GNA – Cane-woven caskets, crafted by skilled artisans, are emerging as a unique, eco-friendly alternative to traditional wooden caskets, offering families a distinctive way to honor loved ones.
These caskets are not only an aesthetic masterpiece but also a notable departure from the conventional wooden and metal options.
In the vibrant, culturally rich city of Accra, where funeral ceremonies hold great significance, cane-woven caskets are reshaping the funeral landscape, blending tradition with modernity.
Mr. Kwame Osei, a former Organiser of the Cantonment Cane Association, explained that these caskets are woven from durable, locally sourced cane.
“Families can celebrate Ghana’s rich basket-weaving traditions while supporting artisans and promoting sustainable practices,” he told the Ghana News Agency in an interview.
Unlike wooden caskets, which contribute to deforestation, cane-woven caskets are crafted from renewable materials and are biodegradable.
Despite their benefits, uptake remains slow due to cultural norms, limited awareness, and concerns about durability and cost.
“This hesitation can be attributed to cultural and social norms, limited awareness of eco-friendly caskets, and concerns about the durability and affordability of cane-woven caskets,” Mr. Osei said.
“After weaving it, we use plywood, foam, lining, and cloth for the inner work and decoration. Mostly, those who buy are middle-class and above. They love artistic products. Our prices range from Gh¢ 5,000, but we can also reduce the prices. It all depends on how you want it,” he added.
Mr. Daniel Okyere, a weaver and Association member, noted that handcrafts are often expensive due to the time and effort involved in production and encouraged the public to support them.
“It takes five days to produce one cane-woven casket because it moves from one production point to another. We are in March, and we have sold three caskets already, and this is the fourth one,” he said.
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