The Member of Parliament for Kwabre East, Hon. Onyina Acheampong Akwasi Gyamfi, has outlined a comprehensive development agenda to address the critical needs of his constituents. Speaking on Orange Sunrise with Alfa Ali, the MP highlighted key infrastructural and economic projects, emphasizing road construction, astroturf development, market improvements, and youth employment as his top priorities.
According to Hon. Onyina, the people of Kwabre East consistently express concerns about these four pressing issues. He also acknowledged the additional importance of what he described as “outliers,” such as health and education, in the constituency.
Focusing on sports infrastructure, he noted that Kwabre East, with a population of approximately 315,000, has a youth demographic constituting 62% of the total population. Recognizing the role of sports in youth development, the MP emphasized the significance of astroturf projects. “If you are just looking at an average growth rate of around 2%, we are now in the region of around 315,000, 320,000. It’s getting to a third of a million people in Kwabre East,” he remarked, adding that 62% of these people are youth.
The MP acknowledged that essential parks, such as those in Ahwia and Mamponteng, have been rendered unusable due to incomplete construction. “The parks have been hijacked. It means you’ve placed stones on the field, and people can’t play,” he explained. As a legislator, he has taken steps to push for project completion by questioning relevant ministers and engaging key stakeholders. However, the stalled projects have caused frustration among the youth.
Addressing Youth Unemployment
With over two million unemployed persons in Ghana, Hon. Onyina acknowledged that Kwabre East, being predominantly youthful, faces serious economic challenges. He admitted that youth unemployment is a major concern, and it contributes to disturbances in some communities. While he noted an improvement in peace through collaborations, he stressed that sustainable solutions are needed.
To this end, the MP said he plans to enhance traditional businesses, including Kente weaving, craft-making, and other traditional businesses.
Revitalizing the Kente Industry
Beyond infrastructure, the MP emphasized the economic potential of Kwabre East’s famed Kente industry. Recognizing kente as an iconic Ghanaian fabric with global appeal, Hon. Onyina said he aims to create new market access for local weavers. We have traditional businesses that are running. When you travel outside, hand-woven things are very expensive and are in high demand. My vision or what I intend doing is to get the fashion houses outside to take Kente as one of their fabrics,” he stated.
One of the key strategies he outlined is to establish collaborations with fashion houses abroad, integrating Kente into mainstream fashion. “Once this catches on, we create a huge demand for Kente,” he said. He cited Adanwomase, a well-known Kente hub, where many workers from the Volta Region have migrated to engage in weaving. He stated, however, that the youth of Kwabre East appear disinterested due to the industry’s low profitability.
According to him, buyers from Accra acquire Kente for as low as GH₵1,200, only to resell it for GH₵2,500 or more. “What happens is that even in Ghana, people from Accra come and order Kente at very cheap prices. And then you see it on the internet; they are selling it for 2,500. And then you can go to Kwabre East and Adanwomase and other places [they are selling it] for 1,200,” he revealed.
He described this way of conducting business as a form of exploitation. “The guy will sit down for four or five days to weave this beautiful fabric and then someone will just come and buy it for cheap and sell it at 70% profit,” he lamented. To address this, he said he plans to formalize trade channels that allow artisans to sell Kente at fair prices to international buyers.
Hon. Onyina also disclosed plans for Kente tourism, targeting African Americans and other international visitors. He envisions a program where tourists experience the cultural heritage of Kente, learn about its origins, and even undergo initiation ceremonies granting them Ghanaian names. “It’s a whole spectacle altogether. It’s a real surreal experience,” he noted.
The initiative aims to boost tourism revenue and further promote Kente as a global brand.
The Kente Thread Monopoly and the Need for Local Production
A major challenge facing the Kente industry is the high cost of raw materials, particularly weaving threads. Hon. Onyina revealed that the supply of Kente threads in Ghana is controlled by a near-monopoly, making prices unstable. “It’s not only one person who imports, but he is the biggest. And what happens is that he can increase or reduce as well. So, if he gets competition, what he does is that he will reduce it and he will keep the competition out,” he explained.
The MP said he is exploring government intervention to establish a local factory that can produce weaving threads at competitive prices. “So, currently we don’t have a factory in Ghana producing the threads. But it’s doable.”
Hon. Onyina Acheampong Akwasi Gyamfi remains committed to transforming Kwabre East through infrastructural improvements, youth development, and economic empowerment. His vision for the Kente industry, in particular, highlights the potential for global recognition and economic growth.
