Amma Prempeh (L) Abla Dzifa Gomashie (M) Princess Fathia Nkrumah (R)
Amma Prempeh, recently appointed Kente Ambassador, is taking proactive steps to revitalise Ghana’s kente weaving industry at Bonwire in the Ashanti Region.
Her efforts aim to address critical challenges faced by local weavers and elevate the iconic fabric’s global standing.
Following a meeting with the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, to strategise on maximising kente’s commercial potential, Prempeh visited weavers in Bonwire, in the Ashanti Region, a renowned center for kente production.
Her interactions revealed significant hurdles hindering the industry’s growth.
The weavers at Bonwire highlighted several issues thwarting their operations.
Sampson Boadi, a local weaver, for instance, explained, “One of our main challenges in kente cloth weaving has to do with the high cost of the materials we use for producing the kente. Because they are imported, the exchange rates impact the overall cost of production of the fabric.”
This inflated cost, he noted, often deters potential buyers.
Oheneba Osei Darko, another weaver, lamented the inadequate weaving facilities in the area.
“The factory we weave our kente in is limited, to the extent that after the final products are finished, we don’t get an appropriate place to display them for tourists and patrons to buy,” he said.
Both weavers emphasised the need for expanded markets for their products, with many visitors merely “window shopping” due to high prices.
The weavers appealed to investors and stakeholders for support for workshops and yarn factories to be built.
This, they said, will help advance the industry and encourage the youth in training in the weaving profession.
“We are appealing to investors and stakeholders to help expand the factory to accommodate more weavers and showrooms to bolster our sales,” Oheneba Osei Darko urged.
Speaking to GhanaWeb on July 17, 2025, Amma Prempeh expressed her commitment to the cause.
“I feel privileged that Otumfuo’s Kentehene, Nana Kuragu Ameyaw Santamire II, conferred the kente ambassadorial role on me in May 2025. I do not take this position lightly. In fact, it has given me the impetus to confidently project Ghana to the world,” Amma Prempeh assured.
She noted that she would go to great lengths to ensure Ghana’s iconic fabric takes center stage globally and create job opportunities for the youth.
“I will do what’s within my power to engage relevant stakeholders to explore opportunities to project the kente industry to the benefit of local weavers and generate foreign income for the country as well,” she affirmed.
Amma Prempeh Kente Ambassador (L) and Dr Frank Amoakohene Ashanti Regional Minister (R)
As part of her engagement efforts, Amma Prempeh also paid a courtesy call on the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, on July 14, 2025, to discuss collaborative strategies for the industry’s development.
VPO/AE
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