Accra, Feb.12, GNA - Ms. Elisabeth Ohene, Minister of State at the Office of the President on Monday called on fashion designers to develop products, which would complement the marketing and promotion of Ghanaian kente as a worldwide fabric.
"Our kente cloth is a thing of beauty and would remain our joy forever."
Ms. Ohene was speaking at the launch of Kentefest 2007 in Accra on the theme: "Discover Ghana...The home of kente." The six-days international cultural exposition would also showcase the Adinkra fabrics, Batik, Tie and Dye apparels, African prints and handicraft.
The rest are metal and bronze works, and jewellery and beads. She called for concerted effort to encourage the youth to wear and identify with the kente fabric that has become a global phenomenon. "No textile can develop into a giant industry unless the youth are encouraged to identify with it."
Ms Ohene, who is also a member of the Ghana @50 Secretariat said the kente fabric should not be viewed as a celebration cloth only but a fabric that could be used to make various apparels.
Mr David Amofa, Executive Director of Kentefest said the objective for the exhibition was to promote kente as a national brand and bring it to where it belongs.
He called for measures to be put in place to curb the practice of allowing cheap imports of the kente designs from other countries to tarnish the hard earned reputation of the local manufacturers. Ms. Amofa also said his outfit would organize workshop for the kente weavers, artisans and exhibitors on how to access loans to support their businesses.
