Queen mother calls for investment into Kente industry

The Queen mother for Bonwire in the Ashanti region, Nana Nyarko Frimpongmaa II, has appealed to the government to construct a thread factory for the kente industry to thrive in Ghana.

She was particular about the exorbitant cost of thread, since it played a major role in the cost of the indigenous fabric.

According to Nyarko Frimpongmaa II, the establishment of the factory will ease the high cost of kente of raw materials used for the production of the colourful clothes.

“The cost of producing kente has gone up, albeit the cost of thread being the leading factor, a challenge which we have notified the government about. I am glad you have asked about this.

“If this is done, the cost of thread will go down for Ghanaians to afford them,because kente represents Ghana. Each and every Ghanaian must own a kente because it symolises your identity as a Ghanaian.”

The Bonwire Queenmother made this assertion during an interview with the media at an Akwasidae celebration.

On the rationale behind the celebration of Akwasidae, Nyarko Frimpongmaa explained that they reflect on the achievements of their forebears.

“We celebrate the Akwasidae in remembrance of our elders and it also serves as a medium to advise the youth on the needs to emulate good lifestyles and, thereby, becoming responsible leaders,” she said.

“It is good that we meet them and share cultural,customs, tradition and history with them. When it comes to the weaving of our native cloth-kente, most people do not know the history behind the cloth.

“They need to come and learn so that in future, they will know their history. It is the obligation of the entire Bonwire community to know the history.”

Additionally, she added that during such festivity, they perform puberty rites for the young girls and this has influenced the lifestyles of the youth, teaching them about the culture and customs of our elders.

Touching on the illicit behaviour among the youth, the traditional leader expressed worry about the attitude of the youth of today, adding that Ghanaian society has been deluged with all manner of irresponsible behavior, undergirded by illicit drugs such as marijuana (wee), tramadol, among others. So occasions such as Akwasidae served as a medium to caution the youth to refrain from unholy attitude.

Nana Nyarko Frimpongmaa II subsequently urged the youth to be wary of the fact that times are hard and that if they attain formal education, they should find a job to do and become responsible adults.