Ghanaians asked not to demean Kente cloths

Sekondi, March 15, GNA - The President of the National House of Chiefs, Odeneho Gyapong Ababio II, has expressed concern about the way the rich Ghanaian kente cloth was being demeaned.

He said the kente cloth is now being used as a high-table spread at various functions particularly at speech and prize giving days by some educational, institutions and other organisations and thus demeaning the cloth.

He expressed this concern in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Sekondi on Tuesday.

Odeneho Ababio said the kente cloth is the most treasured and valuable cloth among the Ghanaian society and portrays the Ghanaians identity and rich culture abroad.

Odeneho Ababio, who is also the Omanhene of the Sefwi Bekwai Traditional area, said the practice has greatly reduced the dignity and importance of the kente cloth.

As a result, many dignitaries and chiefs invited to functions have stopped adorning themselves in kente cloths in order to avoid the embarrassment they would find themselves when the kente cloth they put on is found to have been used to decorate high tables.

Odeneho Ababio therefore appealed to educational institutions, organisations, churches and decorators to stop the decorating high tables with kente cloth and rather use white lace or white materials. He also asked chiefs as custodians of the country's rich culture to guide against the misuse of the kente cloth.

"Let us all as Ghanaians help to sustain our rich culture heritage by refraining from demeaning the kente cloth" he urged.