Government urged to support Kente industry
Nene Nuer Keteku III, Konor of Agotime at the weekend appealed to the government to give financial support to kente weavers in the country to facilitate the expansion and development of the industry.
He noted that though kente has given the country international recognition, many kente weavers remained poor for lack of financial assistance.
Nene Keteku made the appeal at a durbar to mark this year’s Agbamevorza (Kente Festival) of the chiefs and people of Agotime Traditional area at Kpetoe in the Volta Region.
The festival, which was on the theme: “Conserving our cultural heritage,” showcased the cultural and aesthetic values of the Ewe kente.
Nene Keteku said government’s support to sustain the kente industry would help reduce unemployment and migration of the youth to urban centres.
Touching on the theme, Nene Keteku described Ewe kente as the best in the country and called on stakeholders to help conserve it.
He said apart from simple “geometrical shaping”, the Ewe kente has unique features that make it aesthetically and culturally special.
“The motifs and designs with their special backgrounds evoke powerful emotions and symbolise some of the most fundamental human ideals,” Nene Keteku said.
He cautioned people who produce poor quality kente cloth into the market to stop, warning that the Traditional authorities are instituting measures to deal with the practice.
“We shall not countenance any weaver…who produces such poor texture kente cloth to the detriment of our fame as producers of best quality kente cloth,” he stressed.
He also chastised the youth in the community for their lack of communal spirit and urged them to ‘repent’ for the rapid socio-economic development of the area.
Nene Keteku commended government for its social intervention programmes and appealed for expedite action on works on the Adaklu-Anyigbe District road.
He also requested for a district hospital.
Ms Hannah Tetteh, Minister of Trade and Industry urged kente weavers to form associations in order to benefit from financial packages meant for identifiable groups.
She advised the weavers to be innovative and creative so that people would be ready to spend a little more on their products.
Ms Tetteh reiterated government’s commitment to honour all its promises to the citizenry and called for public support.
Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, Minister of Women and Children and Member of Parliament for the area, said she is liaising with the Ministry of Trade and Industry to provide a craft village for the community.
Mr Michael Kobla Adzaho, District Chief Executive catalogued some development projects undertaken by government in the last two years.
The festival attracted chiefs from neighbouring Togo and tourists across the world.
Source: GNA