- Kente has been officially recognized as Ghana’s first Geographical Indication (GI) product.
- GI status confirms a product’s quality and reputation come from its place of origin, offering protection and economic benefits to local producers.
- The launch event was held at La-Palm Royal Beach Hotel and organized by the Registrar General’s Department with WIPO.
- Kente now joins globally protected products like Champagne, Tequila, and Darjeeling tea.
- GI recognition guarantees that Kente is exclusively Ghanaian and authentic for international buyers.
- This achievement follows Kente’s inclusion on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in December 2024.
- Ghanaian authorities and stakeholders have spent seven years supporting Kente’s global recognition.
Ghana’s iconic Kente cloth has officially been awarded global recognition as the country’s first Geographical Indication (GI) product, marking a historic moment for the nation’s cultural and creative arts.
A Geographical Indication links a product to its place of origin, confirming that its unique quality, reputation, and characteristics stem from that region. For local producers, this designation enhances brand value, assures authenticity, and opens up broader economic opportunities.
The official launch took place at the La-Palm Royal Beach Hotel, bringing together key players from the creative sector. The event was organised jointly by the Registrar General’s Department and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
With GI status, Kente joins the ranks of world-renowned products like Champagne from France, Tequila from Mexico, and Darjeeling tea from India—items whose origin is legally protected due to their deep cultural and regional significance. For Ghana, this ensures that Kente is recognized globally as exclusively Ghanaian, safeguarding authenticity for international buyers and providing new economic pathways for local weavers and their communities.
This landmark recognition builds on Ghana’s earlier cultural achievement, when Kente was listed on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in December. Richardson Commey Fio, Special Assistant to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, described the event as both nostalgic and thrilling, reflecting seven years of dedicated work supporting Kente’s journey to global acclaim.
