Promote the unity of Asante and Ewe Kente weavers - AGI regional boss

Kumasi, Jan 31, GNA - Nana Asante Frimpong, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), has suggested to the Ministry of Culture to bring both Asante and Ewe kente weavers together to form a national association in order for them to gain recognition.

He held that the cloth represents Ghanaian history as well as social values and political thoughts and that it was the only fabric that gives Ghanaians a distinctive identification abroad. Nana Frimpong said this on Thursday at the outdooring of a new kente design in honour of President John Agyekum Kufuor for his good works during his tenure as a president. Christened "Kufuor Apagya Ghana", the distinctly designed kente cloth, was developed by the Adanwomase Kente Weavers Association of the Kwabre District.

It was in recognition of President Kufuor's effort at raising the image of the country internationally and initiating programmes that had helped improve the living standards of the people. Nana Asante Frimpong, himself, a weaver, reiterated that kente had achieved a tremendous international recognition and evolved to one of the most tangible manifestations of ever growing sense of Pan African unity, hence encouraging the unity of the weavers is in the right direction.

Nana Frimpong appealed to the government to set a day aside in a year for the celebration of kente, whereby the entire weavers across the country could compete with their latest designs for prizes. He also proposed the establishment of a national kente museum to showcase outstanding weavers and their works. He called on government to make it mandatory for Ghanaian Ambassadors who present their letters of accreditation to foreign governments to put on kente. Mr. Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, Ashanti Regional Minister, outdoored the cloth made of one design but in four different colours. He noted that the initiative was in the right direction since President Kufuor had achieved a high degree of recognition in Ghana's history.

Madam Patricia Appiagyei, Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive commended the designers of the cloth. Dr Adu Gyamfi, a native of Adanwomase, bought the first cloth at GH=A25,000.