Exploring Kente weaving industry to drive smart community development in Ghana

The concept of smart city or smart community development can be utilised to develop small urban centres and improve livelihood and discourage migration. However, limited attention has been given to the rapidly growing Kente weaving industry, which holds significant promise for smart community development in recent decades. Therefore, the objective of this study is to assess how leveraging the unique cultural values and benefit of Kente can contribute to the development of smart communities taking into consideration the potentials and challenges in the region. The study employed qualitative studies by interviewing key community members, observing the condition of the working environment of the Kente business, and reviewing the literature. Based on the content analysis, the study revealed some key benefits and cultural values associated with Kente weaving, including craftsmanship, international recognition and market, serving as a tourist attraction and representation of Africa in terms of prestige, status, and cultural pride which can be used to drive development in the settlement. The key challenges identified include lack of facilities for commerce and hospitality, inadequate workshops, lack of collaboration and cooperation among stakeholders, financial constraints and competition with printed textiles. Despite these challenges, the study observed some potentials that can be tapped to drive smart community development, including the international recognition and market for Kente, the value of the product, the use of digital payment methods to promote easier transactions, and the ongoing development of a Kente weavers’ website. The government should collaborate with private investors, create websites and provide training in business skills and online marketing to engender smart community development.