Fugu promotion to revitalise Ghana’s weaving industry - Creative Arts Minister

The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has clarified that the promotion of Fugu complements, rather than competes with, Kente and other Ghanaian textiles, stressing that the overarching objective is to revitalise the entire weaving industry nationwide.

She noted that initiatives such as Fugu Wednesday stimulate the full value chain, create jobs, strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), retain wealth within local economies and empower women who are active in weaving, dyeing and trading.

The Minister made these remarks when she served as Special Guest of Honour at the NIB PLC Fugu Wednesday Launch held at the UDS Branch of National Investment Bank PLC in Tamale.

The launch, organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, was held under the theme “NIB PLC: Championing Ghana’s Heritage, Empowering Creativity, Financing Culture and Promoting Tourism,” and forms part of national efforts to promote indigenous textiles as tools for economic transformation.

She commended NIB for institutionalising Fugu Wednesday, describing it as a model partnership between the banking sector and the tourism, culture and creative arts industries.

According to her, the initiative demonstrates how corporate support can transform culture from heritage into a viable economic force that supports industrial growth and tourism development.

In her address, the Minister announced plans by the Ministry to establish a dedicated fund to support the weaving and fashion sectors and called on banks and financial institutions to contribute to strengthening the textile value chain.

She also acknowledged the commitment of the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry to improving access to cotton, thread and yarn, noting that such interventions are essential for sustaining local production.

She further highlighted the broader economic and tourism value of wearing Made-in-Ghana clothing, emphasising that cultural promotion is both an economic strategy and a tourism asset.

She expressed appreciation to H.E. President John Dramani Mahama for championing Ghanaian culture through the directive encouraging the wearing of Fugu every Wednesday and thanked traditional authorities for preserving cultural heritage and maintaining peace.

She urged Corporate Ghana to see support for indigenous textiles as a shared national responsibility and reaffirmed her Ministry’s commitment to promoting Ghanaian culture globally, expanding cultural festivals and positioning Ghana as a leading cultural destination.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of National Investment Bank PLC, Doliwura Zakaria, described the Fugu Wednesday Wear Initiative as a national effort to promote identity, enterprise, cultural pride and economic transformation through the wearing of Ghanaian textiles.

He said that as a development-oriented bank, NIB’s support for Fugu directly benefits local cotton producers, weavers, artisans, garment manufacturers and SMEs, while strengthening domestic value chains and retaining economic value within the country.

He announced that the Bank will roll out tailored credit products for textile producers, designers and fashion entrepreneurs, including financing for equipment acquisition, working capital and value chain development. Industry players were encouraged to form cooperatives to enhance creditworthiness and improve access to structured financing.

He further declared Fugu Wednesday as part of NIB’s official corporate attire nationwide, describing it as a statement of national leadership and Ghanaian identity.

The Northern Regional Minister, Hon. Ali Adolf G. John, described the launch as a proud step towards advancing the presidential directive to observe Wednesdays as Fugu Day. He noted that Fugu is more than attire, describing it as a symbol of northern Ghana’s history, culture, craftsmanship and identity, while paying tribute to artisans whose skills continue to preserve this heritage.

Speakers at the event including Esther Agyemang Prempeh, the corporate affairs officer of NIB underscored Fugu’s role as a key economic driver that creates jobs, sustains households and empowers communities across northern Ghana.

The launch acknowledged the support of the Northern Regional Coordinating Council, the Mayor of Tamale, and traditional communities such as Gonga and Boya, where Fugu has deep cultural roots. The collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts and National Investment Bank PLC was widely praised as a practical model for aligning culture with finance to achieve sustainable economic development.

Also present to support the Honourable Minister were the Director for Tourism at the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Dr. Geoffrey Tamakloe; the Director for Culture and Creative Arts, Divine Owusu-Ansah; and the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (General Services) of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Ben Anane Nsiah, together with other key stakeholders from the sector.