Share FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinWhatsappTelegramEmail 483 Ghana Society Under the scorching afternoon sun of Bolgatanga, a rural community north of Ghana, Patience Apambila is splitting strands of dry grass in preparation for weaving them into baskets. More Articles You Would Love VIDEO: Arisar Serves A Sizzle Sneak Peak Of Their Upcoming Swimwear Shoot With These Behind The Scenes Visuals Mugabe Fashion Celebrating His 92nd Birthday Making Waves In South Africa Apambila is one of 200,000 women in Bolgatanga, Bolga for short, who create handwoven Veta Vera grass baskets, famously known as Bolga Baskets. One of Ghana’s biggest Bolga basket exporters, Dominic Abakuri says the practice of weaving baskets is a traditional skill as old as the community and has been passed on from generations. Bolga’s soil is not fertile enough for commercial agricultural activities alone. As a result, handwork like pottery and basket weaving are undertaken by women too. But weaving Bolga baskets is beyond continuing an age long tradition, it is also about creating jobs. Exporters and local retailers organize these women all year round and pay them to weave the Bolga baskets based on demand. A lot of women from the community are poor, so, making and selling baskets serve as an additional source of income for them. Apambila, for example, can take care of some family needs from the money she makes weaving these baskets. “It helps us to set up our children’s school bills and do a lot of things,” she said. Boosting the economy Ghana’s non-traditional export sector, which basket weaving falls under, contributes about 20% to the country’s export trade, says Afua Asabea Asare, CEO of Ghana Export Promotion Authority. Through Bolga basket exports to key markets such as the UK, US, Australia, and New Zealand, the sector is increasing its sales potential. Asare added that in 2017, Ghana exported roughly $800,000 worth of baskets to the international market, “A lot of countries are interested in our baskets. Denmark, and even the Ghanaian markets,” she said. CNN Share FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinWhatsappTelegramEmail Nana Tamakloe Founder of FashionGHANA.com and Accra Fashion Week. I'm grateful you visited, I hope you share, subscribe and share your comments or opinions below. More For You Ghanaian Highlife Star Akwaboah’s Is Off The Market, See His Engagement Photos Inside! Looking For Trendy Kufis and Durags; Search No Further Senegal’s Amaja Is Here #BIKINIBAE: Motherhood Never Looked So Haute; Check Out These Jaw-Dropping Swimwear Looks By... #OOTD: Miss Universe Cameroon’23 Princesse Issie Takes Moan Yesus Amazing ‘ASSIMBA’ Dress For... The 2024 Trending Take Over, The Rich History, The Prideful Culture Of Fulani... Mozambican Designer Mabenna Unveils Her Latest Masterpiece Look Book For The “Melanin” Collection #fGBrideAndGroom: Ghanaian Doctors Dr. Adwoa and Dr. Kobbie Tie The Knot In Stunning... AI Artist Dana K. Booker Explores The Gorgeous African Beauties Of Columbia In... Nigeria’s Lady Maker Launches The Stunning Look Book For Her Waste To Wonder... Cameroonian UFC champion Francis Ngannou’s 15 Month Old Son Dies Leave a Comment Cancel ReplyYou must be logged in to post a comment. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.