Bamboo Rattan and Cane artisans in Kumasi cash in on X’mas

Ultimate FM

Mon 24th Dec, 2018 12:57

In the heart of Nhyieso under the shady trees leading towards the Golden Tulip Kumasi City, it is all a display of furniture, gift items and artifacts made of bamboo, cane or rattan.

Paul Nyame is the owner of the Nyame Cane and Bamboo works. He has been doing this for the past four decades.

His materials are basic. But it will take some skill, creativity and craftsmanship to carefully weave together these living room and dining hall furniture sets; wardrobes; upholstery and baskets.

For now his focus is on hamper baskets for the Christmas giving. Paul has in display, all kinds and sizes of cane woven hamper baskets.

“For this Christmas we are doing more of hamper baskets. We are also doing some chairs. It ranges from 10 cedis to 35 cedis,” he says busily hammering some strands together.

He is however worried he could not raise enough capital to stock canes to anticipate the demand.

“We could not get funds to buy enough canes ahead of the season so we are overwhelmed by the Christmas season..We are now trying to catch up with demand. At first we would usually begin stocking even as far back as February. This time we couldn’t get money to stock the canes.”

Thomas Mensah also has his shed just a walk down the road. He also deals in bamboo and rattan made furniture and baskets.

He is worried Chinese suppliers who have the benefit of modern technology and equipment are getting into this business.

He explained, “The Chinese have some similar products but they use sawdust mixed with some chemicals. They look like plastics and they usually get rotten in a short while.”

“They look beautiful just because of the kind of machines the Chinese use. Sometimes people prefer the Chinese ones but I always tell them that ours is durable,” he added.

This craft is also providing jobs for several young persons who are either working as apprentices or casual staff in these sheds. Kojo Poku a worker here points out that this is a budding ground for job creation in the country.

“If this industry progresses, many will get jobs without depending on government. Young guys can even learn and open their own outlets,” He noted.

Already Christmas shoppers have begun buying their hamper baskets. A baker Irene Baah Afful who has just purchased some baskets wants the state to support the bamboo rattan industry to grow beyond its current piecemeal state.

“It’s the end of the year and I want to arrange some gifts for loved ones so I came to buy some baskets. They are really doing beautiful things with the canes. Just look around at the wardrobes and the furniture woven from these canes. We have great things in Ghana and we should be focus-sing on it,” she commended.

Well some good sales for the bamboo and rattan cane artisans in Kumasi. But beyond the season it appears this will be another good area of investment for governments to avert some attention towards.