Patrons of imported footwear in Kumasi may soon have to find alternative ways of fixing their footwear as shoemakers at the Kejetia Central Market have decided to stop mending such products.
The artisans say the decision has become necessary as the growing dominance of imported footwear continues to push them out of business.
The shoemakers, who not only repair but also produce footwear, say the trend is gradually crippling a once-thriving local industry.
“Kumasi-made”, as the market is now flooded with cheaper imported alternatives.
Many of the shoemakers’ shops have remained closed for years. Some artisans told The Mirror that the downturn in business had forced many of their colleagues to shut down.
Effects
A shoemaker, Osei Appenteng, explained that the influx of imported footwear had compelled many artisans to reconsider their role in the market.
“The effect is that many of us have decided not to repair such slippers. We will reject them right here when customers bring them,” he said.
Some of the shoemakers argued that such products were of low quality.
Kumasi as a hub
For decades, Kumasi has been the hub of quality handmade footwear, with artisans relying on leather and skills passed down through generations.
However, the current trend threatens not only their income but also the survival of the trade.
Struggle for survival
A shoemaker who has been in the trade for 40 years, Mr Agyei Mensah, expressed concern about what he described as the growing dominance of certain products across multiple sectors.
“They are destroying our lands, cocoa and rivers, and now they have taken over our shoemaking business. What is the government doing about it?” he asked.
He explained that while local artisans relied on manual labour, some foreign manufacturers used machines to produce large quantities within a short time.
“They can produce about 1,000 pieces within a short time, but we use our hands. If we stop working, what will we do?” he queried.
He, therefore, called on the government to support skilled workers and make the industry more competitive.
Call for patronage
Mr Mensah urged Ghanaians to prioritise locally made products.
“Ghanaians should patronise made-in-Ghana goods. These imported slippers may look nice, but they are not durable,” he said.
He added that he had stopped repairing such footwear.
“For a long time, when people bring such slippers to mend, I don’t work on them. If you buy cheap things and they spoil, fix them yourself. We should learn to use Ghana-made products,” he said.
He noted that proceeds from shoemaking had enabled him to educate his children, with three completing nursing training and another studying Geography at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
He explained that while local shoemakers used leather to produce durable footwear, imported ones were mostly made from rubber and produced in large quantities using machines.
“Our shoes are graded and made with quality materials, but these people use machines and produce in large numbers, making theirs cheaper,” he said.
He admitted that some locally made slippers, known as “faala faala”, were of lower quality and sold at about GH¢25.
However, he stressed that quality Kumasi-made slippers and shoes cost between GH¢100 and GH¢250.
He added that due to the manual nature of their work, artisans could only produce between two and 10 pairs a day.
Mr Mensah cited the high cost of raw materials and lack of capital as major challenges affecting their work.
He called on the government to reduce the cost of materials used in shoemaking and provide support for artisans in the sector.
Shift in trade
A shoemaker, Kofi Amoh, who has now switched to selling imported slippers, said starting a shoemaking business required about GH¢20,000.
He explained that many young people had abandoned the trade for other ventures such as construction, transport business and travelling abroad for jobs.
“Some of us have also switched to selling imported slippers because they are cheaper and easier to sell,” he said.
According to him, some imported slippers sold between GH¢30 and GH¢70, making them more attractive to customers.
He lamented that areas such as Atonsu, once known for shoemaking, were now almost empty.
“Our fathers built houses through this business, but now we cannot do the same,” he said.
Rising cost of production
He further indicated that the cost of materials had increased significantly over the years.
He explained that in the past, a capital of about GH¢2,000 could produce up to 500 pairs of slippers, but that was no longer possible.
“Now, even the cheapest materials cost about GH¢400. So if you want to produce in large quantities, how much will you need?” he asked.
He also alleged that some manufacturers had imitated their designs after studying their work.
“They came here, took pictures of what we were making and went to produce similar designs using machines,” he said.
Future at risk
Many of the artisans expressed concern about the future of the trade, noting that few young people were willing to learn the skill.
They attributed this to low daily earnings compared to other jobs.
“How much can you pay a young person after a day’s work? Maybe GH¢20, while they can make over GH¢100 doing other jobs,” one of them said.
They called for training programmes, financial support and investment in the shoemaking industry to make it more attractive.
There is money in shoemaking, they said, but without support and renewed interest in locally made products, a trade that once sustained families and built livelihoods in Kumasi risks fading away.
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Source:
www.graphic.com.gh