Kente weavers at Bonwire in Ejisu Municipality in the Ashanti Region are complaining bitterly about the rising cost of the materials they use in their trade due to the unstable cedi-dollar rate.
Patronizing it has become a challenge for producers of the product in Bonwire.
Speaking to Wontumi Radio, Chairman of the Weavers association Okyere Marfo, indicated that materials used in the production has become very expensive resulting to low patronage.
“Kente is expensive this days and it’s not our fault. The scarcity of the fabrics use in weaving, we increase the prices anytime the dollar geos up”
Mr Okyere added that the youth have interest in participating in the production of Kente but couldn’t meet their demands.
“We use to have a lot of youth in the production departments because many patronize them but all left because low patronage scared them so we’ve low production”
According to the report, prices of Kente depends on the type and brand. He indicated that the ‘Abrempong Kente’ the most expensive among them could cost one eigteen thousand Cedis (GH¢18,000) while the least would also cost two thousand Cedis (GH¢2,000).
John Dumelo, Gifty Aunty, Nana-Addo and many others are some interesting names used in calling the Kente
Kente known as Nwentom in Akan, is a type of silk and cotton fabric made of interwoven cloth strip and is native to the Akan ethnic group of west Ghana. Kente is made in Akan lands in the Ashanti enclaves, it’s worn by almost every Ghanaian tribe.
