The Chairman of the Bonwire Kente Weavers Association, Mr. Amofa Stephen says one of the most challenging factors threatening the effectiveness of Kente production in the Ejisu Municipal district is poor roads.

According to him, the deplorable state of roads that links from neighboring cities to Bonwire makes it difficult for investors to finance the lucrative trade, which could have curbed the unemployment trials in the Ashanti Region.

“All the roads that links to Bonwire are in poor state. Talk of Ejisu, Antoa and Asonomaso Nkwanta. The state of the road put people off and averts purchases and sales from the original producers,” he said.

“Instead of travelling to buy from the place of origin, they intend to change their minds due to the state of the road and purchase from elsewhere. They are denied the valuable materials therefore our plea to the government is to help and work on our roads,” he added.

Bonwire has been the origin of rich Asante Kente; the heritage of Asantes, a gift passed on by the ancestors of the land. The Launch of the celebration of the Kente Festival themed, “‘Creating Jobs, Enhancing trade through Culture and Fashion’ came off on the October 2, 2019 at Bonwire with the festival supposed to be held at the end of 2019 yet, due to a few setbacks, the program remains on hold.

During the launch, the Chief of Bonwire Nana Bobie Ansah II spoke and pleaded to government to resolve the roads to permit investors into the town to finance the business.

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Speaking to Soireenews on the uniqueness of the Bonwire trade and the exceptionality of the Kente fabric as compared to others, Mr. Amofa disclosed that Bonwire is the only town in the world that has been endowed with the technique for knitting the threads in a remarkable way healthier than any place of creation.

He further explained that Kente fabrics made in Bonwire always appear brighter and improved, an expression of passion and exposure to adorners.

“Bonwire Kente is more appealing and brighter than any other Kente due to the wonderful technics we have in putting the threads together. Gone were the days where the Ewe’s and other tribes competed with us but they have switched to our style due to people’s loss of interest in theirs.

“We are not nervous about their invention. It is all for the interest of Ghana’s welfare but the truth be told, Bonwire Kente looks very different and unique than the others,” he added.

He called on the Government to invest in the trade by building Yarns Factory in the country to avoid much costs in purchasing raw materials from foreign countries.

“We spend a lot of money buying yarns for production from China. The foreign exchange is much and it affect us very well. If government could build a Yarn factory for production, Kente weaving would improve and it will help to decrease unemployment in the country.

“Starting a Kente business involves money therefore lot of the boys have no interest due to the capital required to start. Government could also look at such areas and provide funding to these ambitious young guys to enable them start production,” he ended.