Ghana must turn kente’s global moment into proper investment – Amma Prempeh

Amma Prempeh, a Ghanaian journalist, filmmaker and Kente Ambassador, has advocated for the need to move beyond celebrating kente’s global rise and invest in the infrastructure needed to turn growing demand into economic opportunity. In a statement released to myjoyonline.com, Amma intimated that the recent international attention on Ghanaian kente presents an opportunity for the country to build a stronger commercial industry around the traditional handwoven cloth. Her comments come after fabric gained renewed global visibility following the wedding of Bozoma Saint John-Watson and Keely Watson in Ghana, where guests embraced formal kente attire. The wedding attracted international media attention, including coverage by Forbes. Soon after, His Royal Majesty King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, led a major Akwasidae celebration in Washington, D.C., providing another international platform for Asante culture and kente. According to Amma Prempeh, these developments are “more than beautiful cultural moments” because they signal growing international demand for authentic Ghanaian Kente. “But they also raise an important question: Is Ghana ready for what comes next?” she asked. She believes the country’s existing production capacity, particularly among weavers at Bonwire in the Ashanti Region, may not be sufficient if international orders begin arriving in large volumes. “Our weavers possess extraordinary skills and generations of knowledge, but the industry still faces challenges, including access to affordable yarn, modern workshops, equipment, and production infrastructure,” she said. Amma said Bonwire weavers have already expressed the need for a local yarn factory and improved working spaces, arguing that government and private investors must now respond to those needs. “This is where government and investors must step forward,” she said. As part of her vision as a Kente Ambassador, Amma Prempeh said she wants to help secure an investor to establish a yarn manufacturing factory at Bonwire, alongside modern workshops and other resources for weavers. “Such an investment could transform the Kente industry,” she said, adding that a local yarn factory could reduce dependence on imported yarn while modern workshops could improve productivity without undermining the traditional hand-weaving techniques that make Kente unique. She also called for greater attention to Ghana’s cotton industry to support local yarn production. “In the spirit of exploring a yarn factory, we must also look into advancing the local cotton industry in Ghana so we don’t end up importing cotton for our yarns,” she said. The film maker believes the benefits of developing the Kente industry could extend well beyond weaving, creating jobs and businesses across the value chain, including yarn production, fashion, design, tourism, packaging, marketing and exports. Source: MyJoyOnline (https://www.myjoyonline.com/ghana-must-turn-kentes-global-moment-into-investment-amma-prempeh/)