Traditional Cloth Dyeing Enterprise at Ntonso: Challenges and Opportunities

2012

english

There is a growing awareness to the threats posed by synthetic dyes. Natural plant-based dyes have proved to be
important alternatives to synthetic dyes in the textile industry. The study investigated the traditional cottage
textile dyeing enterprise at Ntonso, in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, to identify challenges facing the industry.
Data were collected through questionnaire administration, individual and group interviews, and from secondary
sources. A total of 40 proprietors were randomly selected and interviewed at Ntonso. The results indicate that the
textile dyeing enterprise is confronted with a number of challenges, including default in payments by clients, poor
quality of some natural dyes on the market and lack of interest of financial institutions to support expansion of the
business. The dyers have, over the years, utilised only two tree species as sources of textile dyes. However
potential exists for natural dyes from many plants. But many of these potential dye-yielding plants have not been
investigated for colour production and performance on cloths for use in the textile industry. Systematic
investigation into the dye-yielding potential of these species and their practical application and performance in
the industry would boost the industry in Ghana

Acquah, S. B.; Oduro, K. A.