The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has dismissed claims that the introduction of National Fugu Day is intended to sideline or replace Kente.
Her comments follow the announcement by the Ghana Tourism Authority declaring every Wednesday as National Fugu Day to promote the northern woven fabric.
“Not a competition”
In an interview with Channel One/Citi News, the Minister clarified that promoting Fugu does not amount to undermining Kente.
According to her, Kente remains a cherished national fabric with deep ceremonial and cultural significance, often associated with celebrations and special occasions. Fugu, on the other hand, is versatile and can be worn in more casual or professional settings, including offices.
She stressed that the initiative is about inclusivity rather than rivalry, urging Ghanaians to avoid framing the promotion of one cultural fabric as an attempt to diminish another.
Call for National Kente Day
The debate gained momentum after Kente weavers in Bonwire in the Ashanti Region called on government to declare a National Kente Day.
While they welcomed efforts to promote Fugu, they argued that Kente globally recognised as a symbol of Ghanaian identity, royalty and heritage also deserves dedicated national recognition.
The introduction of National Fugu Day was partly aimed at celebrating northern Ghana’s rich textile tradition and correcting earlier misconceptions that had reduced Fugu to being described merely as a “blouse” during John Dramani Mahama’s three-day official visit to Zambia.
The Minister reiterated that both fabrics represent important aspects of Ghana’s cultural diversity and should be celebrated without turning cultural pride into regional competition.
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