By Jerry Azanduna, GNA
Techiman. (Bono East) March 05, GNA – Smock and Kente weavers in the Bono East Region have called for investment into their businesses to boost production, as the nation observes the Heritage Month.
Also known as the Ghana Month, the celebration of the heritage month is observed annually from March 1, ending March 31 to promote national unity, cultural identity and patriotism anchored by the Independence Day March 6.
It inspires Ghanaians to wear traditional attire like Kente and smock and eat locally prepared dishes for culture promotion and preservation.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Techiman, the weavers said with government support, they could increase the quality and produce more of the traditional regalia.
The use of the smock, popularly known as ‘Batakari’ and the Kente cloth are symbols of cultural heritage, reflecting the true identity of Ghanaians.
According to the weavers, the raw materials used for the production of the regalia was expensive, and called on the government to also link them to investors and the international market.
Mr Safianu Ali, the President of the Techiman Smock Weavers Association said inaccessibility of financial support to expand their businesses remained a major setback for the association, however members of the association managed with their meagre capital to stay in business.
Nonetheless, Mr Abubakari Nurudeen, one of the weavers lauded the government’s National Apprenticeship Programme (NAP), urging the government to support more of the youth to learn the trade.
He also appealed to financial institutions to provide them with soft loans, and urged Ghanaians to patronize the smock and kente cloth.
Madam Veronica Amoamah, a Kente weaver at Tuobodom, the district capital of Techiman North called on the government to step-up its efforts in reviving the industry, noting that patronage has been low due to people losing interest in wearing the fabric.
Madam Amoamah, another weaver, urged the government to formalize the wearing of the kente regalia in the formal sector to enhance patronage and to preserve the nation’s culture and tradition as well.
During a visit to the Bono East Regional office of the Center for National Culture (CNC), the GNA noticed few of the weavers on duty.
Checks show that most of the members of the association were located at Kintampo, Nkoranza and Atebubu.
GNA
Edited by Dennis Peprah/Kenneth Odeng Adade