The once-thriving Bolgatanga basket-weaving industry is teetering on the brink of collapse as stakeholders raise alarms over skyrocketing production costs, a volatile exchange rate, and the absence of strategic policy interventions.
At a recent stakeholders’ forum in Bolgatanga, Mawuli Akpenyo, CEO of Delata Ghana, warned that the craft industry—which supports over 100,000 livelihoods across the Upper East Region—is facing a potential national crisis.
“The buyers can no longer afford the baskets because of the depreciation of the Ghanaian cedi. A few months ago, $10 translated to about GHS150. Today, that same $10 is barely GHS100. Meanwhile, the cost of producing a quality Bolga basket has risen to GHS120 or more,” Akpenyo explained.
He cited the surging cost of basket weaving raw materials—noting that the price of straw has doubled from GHS10 to GHS20 per bundle—as well as increased transportation and packaging expenses. “You can’t increase prices abroad. It means we’re producing at a loss, which is simply unsustainable,” he added.
Morten Ledskov, an international buyer from Hammershus Company, echoed these concerns. He highlighted that the sharp appreciation of the cedi—from 17 to 12 per Euro—has disrupted exports, forcing producers into a financial dilemma.
“If this continues, there could be a complete halt in Bolga basket production,” he warned. “The only sustainable solution is to commercialize local straw cultivation.”
Ledskov urged local investors to treat straw farming as a viable enterprise rather than relying solely on donor-funded initiatives. “If people can sell dyes, why not straw?” he asked, advocating for a localized straw supply chain to reduce dependence on sourcing from southern Ghana.
Upper East Regional Minister Donatus Akamugri Atanga acknowledged the severity of the crisis and called for a coordinated national response. He proposed the establishment of quality assurance centers, semi-industrial finishing hubs, and policy support for sustainable straw cultivation.
“This craft is a source of livelihood for over 10,000 women and youth. If we don’t act now, the industry could collapse,” he stated.
Conrad Biilarh Duti, Program Manager at TradeAID Integrated, added that the depreciation of the cedi also complicates straw sourcing, with traders sometimes spending months to acquire sufficient quantities. He recommended integrating straw cultivation into national programs such as Tree for Life and One District One Dam to ensure a stable supply.
Stakeholders are urgently calling on the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), policymakers, and private investors to step in and rescue the culturally significant and economically vital Bolgatanga basket industry, a cornerstone of Ghana’s craft export sector.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Moses Apiah|Bolgatanga
