Potentials of the kente weaving industry for local development: a case study of Keta District in Ghana

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1996-09-25
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Since the 1980’s the promotion of small scale industries has become a major policy thrust in Ghana This policy shift is based on the failure of the large scale industrialization strategy embarked upon during the immediate post-independence era. The significance of this policy shift may be seen in the potential role that small scale industries could play in resource mobilization, local employment and income generation, and basic needs satisfaction. However, the indigenous industry subsector is often disregarded in official promotional programmes apparently due to lack of recognition for the subsector as significant in the local development process. The study, based on the Kente weaving industry in the Keta District of the Volta Region, reveals that the industry has potentials for local development in terms of employment and income generation, skill acquisition, technology adaptation, survival instincts, growth and expansion in the area of exploitation of potential export market The major constraints militating against the development of the subsector relate to low entrepreneurial competence, inadequate institutional support limited access to imported raw material (yam), and low access to capital. To mobilize the potentials identified in the sector, an institutional capacity building approach has been recommended with the District Assembly playing a co-ordinating and facilitating role in the small scale business promotion process. An entrepreneurial competence-based promotional strategy is also recommended to help raise the entrepreneurial capabilities of the craftsmen.
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A thesis submitted to the Board of Postgraduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award of the Degree of Master of Science in Development Planning and Management, 1996
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