The government has reaffirmed its commitment to preserving Ghana’s rich cultural heritage and creating sustainable economic opportunities for artisans in the country’s creative industry.
The commitment was conveyed by the Chief of Staff at the Office of the Vice President, Alex Segbefia (Nene Dufozi I), on behalf of the Vice President, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, at the 31st Agotime Kente Festival in the Volta Region.
The festival, held under the theme “Agotime Kente: Honouring Our Heritage, Safeguarding Our Future,” brought together traditional authorities, government officials, artisans, cultural enthusiasts and visitors to celebrate the rich Kente heritage of the Agotime people.
Mr. Segbefia said Kente occupies an important place in Ghana’s national identity and has become one of the most recognised expressions of Ghanaian culture globally.
He, however, cautioned that the knowledge and skills required to sustain the craft could not be taken for granted, particularly as local weavers contend with rising input costs and competition from cheaper imitations.
He stressed the need to create viable livelihoods and opportunities for young people to learn and continue the traditional craft.
According to him, the Kente Village and Centre of Excellence, being developed through the initiative of the Agotime Kente Festival Governing Council, presents an opportunity to combine cultural preservation with economic development.
He said the facility, when completed, could expand training for young people, support artisans and businesses, promote research and innovation, protect traditional Kente designs, and position Agotime as a major cultural tourism destination.
Hon. Segbefia commended the Bank of Ghana for its support towards the initiative and appealed to other institutions and development partners to contribute to its successful completion.
He said the initiative was in line wit the government’s broader vision of developing Ghana’s creative economy by enabling artisans, designers, weavers, and other creative professionals to transform their skills into sustainable enterprises and decent livelihoods.
The Chief of Staff also highlighted the importance of infrastructure development to the growth of the Kente industry and other businesses in Agotime.
He noted that the government’s ongoing infrastructure programmes, including the rehabilitation of the Ho-Kpetoe road and the Kpetoe-Afiadanyingba road, formed part of a wider programme of works extending from Ho through Kpetoe to Aflao.
He explained that improved road connectivity would make it easier for weavers and other businesses to access raw materials, transport their products to markets, and attract visitors to the area.
“If we want our creative industries to grow, the people behind them must be able to produce, trade, travel, reach customers, and build viable businesses,” he said.
On the protection of Ghana’s cultural heritage, Hon. Segbefia said government, through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, the Creative Arts Agency and other cultural institutions, was working to expand market access, support training and enterprise development, encourage innovation and strengthen intellectual property protection.
He said protecting traditional knowledge and ensuring that artisans benefited commercially from their creativity must go hand in hand.
Touching on concerns raised by the Konor of Agotime over unfinished health facilities, Hon. Segbefia said the government had made provision in the 2026 budget to complete 10 unfinished hospitals as part of its broader investment in health infrastructure.
He acknowledged the concerns of communities with incomplete health projects, but sai the government needed to carefully assess each facility and the resources required for its completion and equipping.
He urged stakeholders to see development as an integrated process involving roads, markets, education, skills, healthcare, productive work, culture, and enterprise.
Mr. Segbefia further encouraged young people to acquire the skills needed to preserve Kente while embracing modern technology and emerging markets.
He said the government would continue working with traditional authorities, local governments, industry, and cultural institutions to create conditions for Ghana’s heritage to contribute more significantly to national development.
He also urged Ghanaians to support authentic locally woven Kente, saying patronising genuine products would help sustain the weavers, the knowledge behind the craft, and the livelihoods built around it.
As part o the government’s support for the festival, Mr. Segbefia announced a contribution of GH¢40,000 from the Office of the Vice President.
He congratulated the Agotime Traditional Council, the Festival Governing Council, the planning committee, weavers, artisans and all stakeholders whose efforts contributed to the success of the 31st edition of the festival.
He expressed hope that the people whose skills have sustained the Kente tradition would increasingly benefit from the economic opportunities created by the globally recognised Ghanaian cultural heritage.
READ ALSO:
You don’t trade in gold, make losses – Minority tells Goldbod
GBA’s interpretation of legal vacation is ‘bizarre’ and not ‘workable’ – Srem-Sai
