Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced an international campaign to promote Ghanaian fabrics, particularly fugu and kente, following what he describes as overwhelming global demand.

Speaking in an interview with GHOne TV, the minister revealed that foreign ministers across various regions have expressed keen interest in acquiring fugu, with some requesting custom designs in their national colours.

According to Ablakwa, the demand has been so high that he now wishes he had travelled with “truckloads of fugu.”

He disclosed that nearly all foreign ministers he recently interacted with have asked him to make a formal presentation on the fabric at their next meeting.

The minister added that Foreign Ministers within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have specifically requested fugu tailored in their respective national colours at their upcoming gathering.

He described this as a “special assignment” he is determined to fulfil.

Black Sherif catches eyeballs on social media with Fugu Day look

“The fugu is in such high demand that I hope that our young entrepreneurs, the fugu weavers, will take full advantage of that. Indeed, virtually all the foreign ministers have asked that I do a presentation to them at the next meeting.

"If I knew that it would have been in such high demand, I would have come with truckloads of fugu but it's not too late.

“We have the mid-year coming up. ECOWAS foreign ministers have also told me that at the next ECOWAS meeting, I should give them, they want them in their national colours. So that is the special assignment they've given me, " he said.

The minister further added, “So, I'm going to do fugu for all the African foreign ministers in their national colours, for all the foreign ministers and then their presidents as well. And we are going to Zambia next month for a fugu and kente trade exhibition because there's so much high demand.

"My counterpart keeps calling me, where can we find the fugu? Where can we? We connected them to some delivery companies, but they say that the quantity, so we're going to have a huge trade fair."

As part of efforts to capitalize on the momentum, Ghana will next month participate in a major fugu and kente trade exhibition in Zambia.

Ablakwa disclosed that the Zambian authorities have allocated the country’s largest trade exhibition centre for the event, citing strong interest from buyers.

AM

Cabinet instructs COCOBOD to begin repayment to all affected cocoa farmers