Price of kente up ahead of festival

The price of kente has reportedly gone up ahead of this year’s “Agbamevorza” (Kente Festival) of the chiefs and people of Agotime Traditional Area.

High numbers, citizens, young and old, home and abroad and prospective visitors chasing the hand woven fabric has resulted in price hikes.

The surge in demand followed a directive from organizers that all celebrants should put on dresses made from kente or at least be adorned by a string of it.

Alex Kwaku, a kente weaver at Kpetoe who spoke to the Ghana News Agency, said he had been working for close to 20 hours every day over the past two weeks to meet orders.

He confirmed that prices had gone up due to the high demand and the extra effort weavers were putting into their work.

Mr Kwaku said high quality piece of kente with modern and sophisticated designs which sold for 400 Ghana cedis now go for 500 Ghana cedis.

The less sophisticated designs that sold for about 350 Ghana cedis are now selling at between 400 and 450 Ghana cedis.

Mr Elvis Attivoe, Public Relations Officer of the Planning Committee of the festival, attributed the excitement in town over this year’s event to the position of Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, Member of Parliament for the area, as the Minister of Tourism.

“Our people see this year’s festival as an opportunity to showcase their rich culture to the world, an opportunity we should seize to market the kente kingdom,” he said.

Mr Attivoe said preparations were far advanced to ensure that the event was historic and urged all citizens and stakeholders to help make the event a success.

He said highlights of the festival would include Women and Children’s Day, Firing of Musketry at Afegame, the ancestral home for all citizens, a kente night and a durbar.

Mr Attivoe said Mrs Azumah-Mensah, also known as Mama Benyo II, would be in full participation and would spearhead the construction of a kente market and a village to help market the product.

Source: GNA