Agotime (Volta Region) – August 2026
Stakeholders in Ghana’s Kente industry are calling for stronger copyright protection for Kente designs to curb unauthorised reproduction, safeguard the livelihoods of local weavers and preserve the country’s rich textile heritage.
The call was made during the 31st Kente Festival Celebration at Agotime-Kpetoe, where stakeholders raised concerns over the commercial copying of traditional Kente patterns, including reproductions outside Ghana, without recognition or financial benefits accruing to the original creators.
Member of Parliament’s Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism, Mr Charles Agbeve, said the practice was undermining the weaving industry and discouraging artisans from investing the time and creativity required to develop new designs.
“We need copyrights for our Kente designs. Our old men can spend time creating this talented fabric, and someone will just, in a second, copy it and get it printed in China. It is killing the industry,” he said.
Mr Agbeve said effective intellectual property protection would encourage weavers to develop new designs while enabling them to benefit economically from their creativity. He noted that discussions on the issue had taken place at the parliamentary committee level, with efforts underway to address intellectual property concerns affecting Kente and other indigenous Ghanaian textiles.
He stressed that protection should extend beyond Kente to other indigenous fabrics and creative products vulnerable to unauthorised reproduction.
Preserving Agotime-Kpetoe’s Kente Heritage
Stakeholders, including Mr Agbeve, also proposed the introduction of Kente studies at the Ho Technical University, including practical engagements that would allow students to visit Agotime-Kpetoe, learn directly from master weavers and understand the history, craftsmanship and cultural significance of Kente.
The initiative, they said, would help document and preserve indigenous weaving knowledge while inspiring more young people to pursue Kente weaving as a profession.
Mr Agbeve said combining education, copyright protection and economic support could transform Kente from a celebrated cultural heritage into a stronger creative industry, creating jobs and sustainable income for weaving communities while ensuring that the knowledge and artistry of Agotime’s master weavers are preserved for future generations.
Some festival celebrants who were engaged also backed the call, stressing that Agotime’s rich Kente heritage must be protected and preserved for generations yet unborn. They said safeguarding the designs, skills and indigenous knowledge passed down through generations was essential to ensuring that future generations could inherit and benefit from the community’s cultural legacy.
