Togbe Kasu IV, Dufia (Chief) of Tafi Abuife, a Guan and Ewe community in the Afadzato South District of the Volta Region, has called on the government to invest in tourism infrastructure and rebuild the community’s Kente weaving centre into a modern 24-hour facility.

Tafi Abuife is renowned for its rich tradition of Kente weaving, and the Chief believes improved infrastructure could position the community as a major economic and cultural tourism destination.

In a speech read on his behalf by Nana Benedicta Kayi-Titriku, he said the proposed facility should include a visitor centre, accommodation, digital promotion facilities and other amenities capable of attracting tourists who would not only purchase Kente but also experience its history, production processes and cultural significance.

Togbe Kasu IV made the call at the 2026 Kente-Keporte Festival of the chiefs and people of Tafi Abuife in the Afadzato South District of the Volta Region on Saturday, September 5, 2026.

The festival was held on the theme: “Kente Beyond Culture: A Tool for Economic Transformation.”

According to Togbe Kasu, Tafi Abuife has enormous potential to become a major cultural tourism destination if the necessary infrastructure and facilities are developed.

He said tourists should be encouraged to visit weaving centres, observe master weavers at work, learn about the history of Kente, participate in weaving experiences, purchase authentic products and enjoy local hospitality.

“I therefore call on the government through the DCE, Hon. Manfred Tawiah and the MP, Hon. Frank Afriyie, to invest in tourism infrastructure, including rebuilding the Kente weaving centre into a modern 24-hour weaving facility with visitor centres, accommodation, digital promotion and other facilities that will make Tafi Abuife an attractive destination,” he said.

He also appealed to the government to reconstruct roads in the area, describing the existing road network as being in a “sorry state.”

Togbe Kasu said improved road infrastructure would open up the community to greater economic opportunities and make it easier for tourists and businesses to access the area.

He envisioned a situation where thousands of tourists visiting Ghana would deliberately include the Tafi Abuife Kente Experience in their itineraries, saying such a development would contribute significantly to the local economy and provide substantial benefits to the Afadzato South District Assembly.

The Chief said Kente should no longer be viewed solely as ceremonial clothing but as an important economic asset capable of creating jobs, supporting entrepreneurship, promoting exports and driving tourism.

He noted that Kente represented the history, wisdom, identity, creativity and aspirations of the people, with every colour, pattern and design carrying a story.

According to him, weaving in Tafi Abuife was not merely an occupation but an integral part of the community’s identity, preserved over generations by fathers, mothers and master weavers.

He said the challenge before the current generation was to transform that cultural heritage into sustainable economic opportunities, particularly for young people and women.

Togbe Kasu IV said the global interest in authentic African fashion, textiles, handicrafts and cultural products presented opportunities for Ghana to expand its creative economy.

He called for stronger partnerships among traditional authorities, government agencies, educational institutions, private businesses and development organisations to train young people in modern weaving and textile technologies.

He further called for affordable financing and equipment, entrepreneurship and business management training, digital marketing and e-commerce education, innovation in Kente design, and opportunities for young designers to access national and international markets.

“Our youth should not only be trained to weave Kente. They must be trained to build businesses around Kente,” he said.

Togbe Kasu IV also urged the Kente industry in Tafi Abuife to embrace the digital economy by using social media, websites, online marketplaces and digital payment systems to reach customers beyond Ghana.

He said a Kente weaver in Tafi Abuife should be able to showcase and sell products to customers in Accra, Kumasi, Lagos, London, New York and other parts of the world.

He therefore encouraged the youth to become digital ambassadors for Tafi Abuife Kente, noting that the community’s ongoing ICT project was a priority in achieving that objective.

He expressed appreciation to the youth association, chiefs, Friends of Abuife and the government for their support towards the ICT project.

The Chief also called for deliberate investment in women involved in the Kente value chain, including trading, fashion, design, finishing and marketing.

He said providing women and young women with access to skills, finance, technology and markets would increase household incomes and strengthen local economic development.

He further appealed to financial institutions, private investors and development partners to recognise the Kente and textile industry as a serious economic sector deserving strategic investment.

He said investors should look beyond conventional sectors such as mining and real estate and explore opportunities within Ghana’s creative and cultural economy.

Togbe Kasu, however, said the responsibility for developing the Kente industry should not rest entirely on the government.

He urged traditional leaders and the community to create an environment where young people could learn, innovate and establish businesses while supporting master weavers, documenting the history of Kente, preserving traditional weaving practices and promoting quality and professionalism.

He said the ultimate objective should be to ensure that the economic benefits generated by Kente contribute meaningfully to the development of Tafi Abuife.

“The future of Kente cannot depend solely on nostalgia. If Kente is to survive and flourish for generations to come, we must transform it from a cultural treasure into a sustainable economic industry,” Togbe Kasu said.

He called for the establishment of a Kente economy that would create jobs, empower women, support artisans, attract tourists, promote Ghana internationally and generate wealth for local communities.

He said Tafi Abuife should become not only a place where beautiful Kente is woven but also a centre for innovation, fashion, tourism, entrepreneurship and cultural enterprise.

“Let us take the message of Kente from the traditional loom to the global marketplace. Let us take our culture from celebration to enterprise. Let us take our heritage from pride to prosperity,” he said.