Ghana's Fashion Leaders Demand Stronger Protection for Kente and Cultural Products

Stakeholders in Ghana's creative and fashion industry are calling for stronger laws to protect the country's cultural products, fair pay for traditional artisans, and more investment to make Ghanaian fashion competitive around the world.

The call was made during a panel discussion at this year's Black Star Fashion Summit, held at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra. The summit was part of Black Star Fashion Week, which is organised by the Black Star Experience under the theme "Put Ghana On". The week was set to end with the Presidential Runway showcase on November 7 at the Royal Senchi Hotel in Akosombo.

The panel was moderated by broadcaster Chrystal Kwame-Aryee and explored the theme "How Do We Put Ghana On? Kente, Culture and the Power of Our Story."

Kente is more than cloth, it is a national asset

Dr Courage Besah-Adanu, Head of the Geographical Indications Unit at the Ghana Industrial Property Office, said Kente should be treated as a communal cultural asset that belongs to the whole nation.

He said Ghana needs clear legal frameworks, regulations, and national investment to protect it. Protecting Kente is not only about preserving tradition, he said, it is also about strengthening Ghana's position in the global market.

He mentioned Fugu and shea butter as other indigenous products that also have strong cultural and commercial value and need the same kind of protection.

Dr Besah-Adanu also explained the importance of geographical indications. This is a type of intellectual property protection that links a product's name and reputation to the specific place and community where it comes from. It can stop other countries or companies from copying the name and selling fake versions.

Artisans must be paid fairly

Other speakers on the panel included author and historian Osei Bonsu Sarfo Kantanka, Andrew Ackah, President of the Advertising Association of Ghana, and Gideon Aryeetey, Secretary of the Creative Arts Council.

Andrew Ackah stressed the need for international recognition of Ghanaian cultural identity and better promotion of local products abroad.

Gideon Aryeetey said one major problem is a lack of confidence in promoting locally made works. He said poor branding and marketing are limiting how far Ghanaian products can go.

He also announced plans by the Creative Arts Agency to introduce a registration and licensing framework for creative arts enterprises. The framework is expected to improve regulation, help collect better data about the industry, and make enforcement easier.

Creatives need IP education

Another major concern raised was the lack of education about intellectual property rights.

Panellists said many creatives, artisans, and small businesses do not know how to protect their work, register a brand, or stop others from copying their designs.

They called for targeted training to give creatives practical knowledge about:

• intellectual property rights
• branding and trademarking
• licensing and contracts
• how to stop copying and piracy

Beyond the panel, Black Star Fashion Week also featured masterclasses, exhibitions, and networking sessions for designers and business owners.

The message from the summit was clear: if Ghana wants to "Put Ghana On", it must protect what makes Ghana unique, pay the people who create it, and teach creatives how to own their work.