Ghana will next month organise a major Fugu and Kente trade exhibition in Lusaka after receiving an invitation from the Zambian government, as interest in the traditional Ghanaian attire continues to grow across Africa.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced the initiative on the sidelines of the ongoing African Union summit in Addis Ababa, noting that ministers and delegates from several countries have been enquiring about how to access the popular northern Ghanaian outfit known as Fugu.
Mr Ablakwa said Zambia has provided its largest trade exhibition centre for the event, which will showcase both Fugu and Kente fabrics, as part of Ghana’s broader economic diplomacy drive.
He added that Ghanaian ambassadors and high commissioners have been directed to organise Fugu and Kente fairs in their respective host countries during Ghana’s National Day celebrations on March 6, to help promote made-in-Ghana textiles and culture.
The exhibition follows renewed continental attention on the outfit after President John Dramani Mahama wore Fugu during a recent state visit to Zambia. Zambia’s President, Hakainde Hichilema, later expressed interest in ordering the attire after receiving one as a gift.
The Foreign Affairs Minister described the growing interest in Fugu and Kente as a timely opportunity to market Ghana’s cultural heritage, promote exports and strengthen trade-focused diplomacy under the government’s new performance targets for its foreign missions.