ICU urges Ghanaian smock weavers to scale up production for local and export markets

The General Secretary of Ghana's Industrial and Commercial Workers' Union (ICU), Morgan Ayawine, has called upon smock weavers and leather workers to increase their production levels to meet the rising demand for Ghanaian crafts in both local and international markets. Ayawine made this appeal during the opening of the first national conference of the Ghana Association of Weavers and Leather Workers (GHAWAL) in Wa, Upper West Region.

The conference aimed to encourage artisans to expand their operations and capitalize on the growing popularity of smock fabrics and related products. Historically, smock weaving has not received much attention compared to other segments of Ghana's woven cloth industry. However, the craft has gained widespread recognition and usage in recent years, particularly due to its use in contemporary fashion designs.

Ayawine highlighted a recent fashion display at TV3's Ghana's Most Beautiful, where contestants showcased smock material in various modern designs. He urged the weavers to take advantage of this growing trend by increasing production and marketing their products to both domestic and export markets. To facilitate this expansion, Ayawine suggested that the GHAWAL should collaborate with the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) and other relevant institutions to meet international standards.

This approach could also be applied to leather and basket products. Ayawine emphasized the importance of investing in product quality, packaging, branding, marketing, and access to finance to achieve greater market access for these artisans. He encouraged the artisans to embrace innovation and modern technology while preserving their cultural identity and traditional craftsmanship.

The ICU pledged its support to the artisans, emphasizing the importance of working together to achieve remarkable success. The conference aimed to turn Ghana's traditional crafts, such as smock weaving, leather, and basketry, into more commercially viable enterprises by improving production capacity, product standards, branding, financing, and access to export markets.