Kente becomes Ghana’s first Geographical Indication
Ghana’s iconic handwoven fabric, Kente, has achieved a historic milestone by being officially recognised as the country’s first Geographical Indication (GI) product, securing its cultural identity and global market value.
The landmark recognition was announced at a grand ceremony held yesterday at the La-Palm Royal Beach Hotel, organised by the Registrar-General’s Department in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).
“This is a major milestone not just for Kente, but for Ghana. It was refreshing and nostalgic for me to be a part of this all-important event to witness the end product of what we have supported with our expertise for the past seven years,” said Richardson Commey Fio, Special Assistant to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts.
The event attracted key stakeholders from Ghana’s creative and cultural sectors.
A Geographical Indication is a type of intellectual property right that links a product’s quality, reputation and origin to a specific location.
For Kente, this means only Ghanaian-made versions of the fabric can carry the name ‘Kente’ under international law, protecting both its authenticity and the livelihoods of local weavers.
With this GI status, Kente now joins the ranks of globally protected cultural treasures such as Champagne from France, Tequila from Mexico and Darjeeling tea from India.
