Cane weavers Association in Takoradi have attributed the low patronage of their product largely to perception of the Ghanaian towards cane furniture and other related product from canes.
That notwithstanding, the association saids one of their major challenge has to do with securing funds to inject into their business. This they say is dragging their industry backwards.
Mr Thomas Quayson, a weaver who has been in the business for the past 16 years said the job has been good to him until recent times.
“In fact, Ghanaians don’t value cane furnitures like we are doing here. Before there were more foreigners in Takoradi so market was good.”
“When you ask weavers on the road they will tell you that finding capital for the business is the most difficult part of our job; we basically rely on orders from customers with part payment to operate,” he emphasized.
Chairman for the Cane Weavers Association here in Takoradi Kingsley Nkrumah Mensah told Business Today several attempts to secure soft loans for their members have not materialized since the days immemorial.
“During Prez Kuffour’s time we hard MASLOC has been introduced to help us but several attempt to secure some funds from them failed and till date we have not benefited from any of such soft loans so we heavily depend on part payments from customers to operate.”
Members of the Takoradi Cane Weaver Association are currently squatters on the Takoradi Habour Road pending the completion of the Center for National Culture in Fijai which as also become a white elephant.
Kojo Ennimil Arthur | Business Today | Beacfmonline.com | Ghana
