The chief of Bonwire in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality of the Ashanti Region, Nana Bobie Ansah II, has appealed to government to establish yarn factory in the town as part of its flagship "1-District-1-Factory" programme.
He said the chiefs have demarcated four acres of land for the establishment of the factory.
According to him, documents and feasibility study reports on the yarn factory have been done and will be presented to government early next year for the establishment of the factory.
The yarn factory is expected to provide yarn for the weaving of the traditional Kente cloth.
Speaking at the grand durbar of the 2017 Bonwire Kente festival celebration which was under the auspices of Bonwire stool held on Saturday, 30 December, 2017, he said the factory will not only solve challenges of the craftsmen and help them increase production of Kente cloth for both export and local use, but will also contribute significantly to the nation's economy as well as create more jobs for the teeming youth.
The Kente cloths, he said has contributed tremendously to the nation's economy through the jobs it has created for some Ghanaians, especially those in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality and Kwabre East District.
Nana Bobie Ansah II said: "It has become the main stream occupation and has employed so many people than any other occupation in these districts. It creates jobs for more than 75 per cent of the total population of these districts. That is why I and my elders are proposing to President (Nana Akufo-Addo) that, he and his cabinet and ministers should consider and bring the one-district, one-factory programme to this town.”
He said the Ejisu-Juaben district needs the yarn factory more than any other factory since 75 per cent of the people are into Kente weaving.
He also called on government to place a ban on the importation of Kente cloths which is currently flooding market to save and protect the local Kente cloths.
He commended government for its promised to reconstruct the town's deplorable road networks to boost economic activities and tourism.