3-2 Improvement on the best use of raw materials
3-2-1 Design and technical recommendations for baskets, mats, and dyed fabrics
1)

Recommendations for baskets

Stems of vetiver grass and others that are used for Bolga baskets have excellent properties such as thestrength and ability to restore to the original form (plasticity). When copies of Bolga baskets were
produced in Vietnam, the baskets produced in Ghana were stronger, winning the competition over the
copied products. Acquisition of superior materials is advantageous in the basket market.
Reversibility is also useful for product development. Stems of vetiver grass and others can be woven
into complex shapes due to its high flexibility. For instance, the three-dimensional samples such as
shapes of animals and dolls that are shown in photograph 3-2-1 were produced by the Ghana Export
Promotion Council using the same material as the Bolga basket (photograph 3-2-1). The material canbe restored to the original shape by wetting it with water even if it is deformed. This characteristic isuseful for exporting the products to remote areas as the products can be restored to the original condition
easily even if they are deformed during a long period of transportation.

Photograph 3-2-1: Samples presented by the
Ghana Export Promotion Council - Photographedby the author.

The major feature of the basket is that it stands by itself due to the material strength. It has been
recommended that this feature be taken advantage of by using it as a material for producing interior
goods and storage vessels for harvested crops. The most conventional Bolga baskets are a large roundshape of 40 cm in diameter and are not suitable to the compact houses in Japan. A basket having a flatbase and oval shape is suitable for houses in Japan. A combination of brown material that is dyed withnatural dye and the natural stem color also matches the taste of sundry goods made of natural materials.
For instance, the products that are shown in photograph 3-2-2 were made by the Nyarega Craft Society
and the author finds them easy to use at home in terms of the color and shape. Thus, it is necessary to
produce baskets of the design and shape suitable for the market and due to its strength and reversibility,
the material can be comparatively easily handled so as to meet a variety of design requirements.

Photograph 3-2-2: The oval shape and flat base aresuitable for Japanese houses - photographed by theauthor.

 For shoulder bags, creative design is required as its tough material may damage the shoulder section of
the fabric of the garment when it is worn over the shoulder. Some of the handles made of goatskin havean odor or become moldy due to inadequate tanning. It is therefore necessary to improve the tanningtechnique.
A sustainable acquisition method of basket materials must also be examined. When expanding goods
for production, the producer must examine a method for ensuring material acquisition more stably andcheaply.
There is a substantial merit for producers who are engaged in basket production to belong to the producer
association. Many producers are women who engage in such work as a side job during the agriculturaloff-season. For producers to gain adequate profits through basket production, it is necessary torecognize the design of the baskets to be made, which means that products must comply with the market
demand. However, it is difficult for producers living in rural villages to handle marketing. If
producers sell their products directly to traders at the basket market held in Bolgatanga, the traders drive
hard bargains to get the price down. Placement of orders of products through the producers' association
organized under the leadership of local volunteers such as the Nyarega Craft Society is not only usefulfor producers to obtain an appropriate income but is also useful for the sustainable industry developmentof rural areas.
2)

Recommendations for matsThroughout all of Ghana, mats produced using natural fibers have been used for various purposes such as
blinds and rugs. In Ghana which is situated in the tropical rainforest climate and tropical savannah
climate, mats made of natural materials are household items suitable for the climate. Therefore, thepotential of mat production can be driven by domestic demand.
On the outskirts of Accra, mats are used as blinds, which are made of thick fibers and woven tightly,
blocking the airflow. The author recommends a structure that allows for some airflow. The mats madeof the Typhaceae plants and Cyperaceae plants that are produced in the Volta area are woven using thetechnique where warps are set up using a wooden frame and the stems are threaded weft-wise. A
pattern is created by dying some stems that are used as woofs. Products of a variety of designs can be
developed by elaborating on the patterns.
3)

Recommendations for textiles

The demand for the fabrics for all of Kente, Adinkra, and smocks, which are textile products, isaccelerating in Ghana.
Fabrics for Kente and smocks can be used as the materials for increasing design variations of basket
products. Fabrics for Kente and smocks, both of which are narrow textiles of a little more than 10 cm,
can be used by stitching together to a required size (photograph 3-2-3). The opening of the basket is solarge that it exposes the inside contents. For hiding the contents and for crime prevention purposes, theauthor recommends a fabric be stitched at the opening of the basket. The fabrics contribute to the
products specific to Ghana and printed fabrics are also produced. It is also possible to combine a
printed fabric with a basket.

 Photograph 3-2-3: Fabric for smocks. Narrow fabrics
are rolled and are sold in the market. Photographed by
the author at the Tamale market.

4)

Others

It is possible to create a tourism industry in rural areas by combining handicraft production and tourism.
Such attempts have already been made and one of the attempts is Sirigu Women Organization for Pottery
and Art that was established by the local women in Sirigu, in the northeast area of Ghana. This women's
association was established as a place for women to learn handicrafts and the traditions of the region andis provided with a gallery, accommodation facilities, and a restaurant. In the gallery, it is possible toobserve the actual production of pottery, baskets, and paintings by the women. The same attempt can bemade for Rattan baskets and Rattan vegetated areas. Rattan vegetation is rapidly decreasing and thenecessity for cultivation is becoming urgent in Ghana also. The author recommends the development of
a combination of eco-tourism for learning cultivation and vegetation of Rattan and hands-on experienceof basket production using Rattan.
In this research project, handicraft products were also examined by visiting the Craft Village and souvenir
shops in Accra and Bolgatanga. The research revealed that many Kenyan products are also sold in the
shops as well as Ghanian products. Substantial improvements are necessary for Ghanian products interms of both quality and design.

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3-2-2 Design and technical recommendations for handicrafts
1)

Products using raffia palm

(1) Effective use of rachises for furniture
The rachises of raffia, which are extremely strong, are used foroutdoor benches and wall materials.
Raffia can becomparatively obtained with ease near residential areas. Whileacquisition of rattan is now becoming difficult, raffia can beused as a natural material for furniture. Designs utilizing thecross sectional shape of a rachis was proposed by Global
Bamboo Industries (photograph 3-2-4). The suggestion of thedesign that has been made by taking advantage of the thicknessof the material and the proportion are shown in the following
figure (Figure 3-2-1).

Photograph 3-2-4

Whittle down the inside of
the stem as shown on theleft side.
Wrap the joints withwisteria vines or raffia
leaves (not sown in the
diagram)
The structure of the spreadstems is replicated in thedesign as the feature.
The seating face is createdby laminating torn stems.

Figure 3-2-1 Small lounge chair, Shinichi Ito W560 D615 H700 

(2) Application to blinds
Rachises that are torn into pieces are locally processed to produce line fishing gear and mats. In South
Africa, one company is manufacturing blinds. Originally, torn raffia rachises were found to besuitable for blinds due to their excellent strength and straightness.
Reference website
http://www.aluvert.co.za/raffia.htm
2)

Products made of jointed flatsedge(1) Application to souvenirs made using the
traditional weaving method
Baskets that are produced in the Volta Region haveattractive fine meshes. The woven products include
baskets whose upper diameter is slightly smaller than thelower diameter and also flag-shaped fans.
This basket is functionally useful (used for carrying
foods and money) as an everyday living tool in Ghana;however, the vertical to horizontal ratio and the shapesof the top and bottom are an obstacle to indoor use inJapan, Europe, and America. The author recommends a"box with a lid," a "fruit basket," and a "lamp shade."
These products can be produced by changing the
proportion without any special new technique.
3)

Figure 3-2-2 Box with a lid made of bulrush,
Shinichi Ito㩷

Products made of oil palm

(1) Application to products similar to bamboo weaving
Rachises of oil palm are extremely strong and durable as demonstrated by baskets that are seen in themarkets. The author recommends the production of seating sections of chairs and lamp shapes using
these features in the same way as bamboo weaving. Although the strongest part is the surface skinextracted by tearing a rachis, the surface is often dirty as it is exposed to the weather. To transform theitem to a high-value added product, treatment such as selection, coloring, and dying are necessary after
tearing the rachis.

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4)

Products made of rattan(1)

Figure 3-2-5 On-the-road workshop in
Takoradi

Quality control

South East Asian countries hold a large share of themarket for this material and also lead the world markets
in terms of designs. In Ghana also, products of auniversal design as shown in the photograph on the left
side are produced as a "no-name design."
Thisindicates that sales targets of this product include export
markets, hotels, and restaurants. Although the market
covers a wide range, there is a substantial difference
from the products manufactured by South East Asian
countries in terms of quality.

By combining with textiles, a feature specific to Ghana
can be demonstrated and the product can be linked with the tourism industry. Therefore, it isimportant to produce high-quality products of a universal design. To achieve this objective, thefollowing three improvements are urgently required. At the same time, examples of Yamakawa Rattan
International, an Indonesian manufacturer that produces designer products for Japan, Denmark, andAmerica, are introduced.
1 Raw material management: Most importantly, raw materials must be stored in a place protectedfrom the rain. At the same time, it is important to store materials by classifying them by thickness
and quality. A machine for sorting by thickness is desirable.

Photograph 3-2-6 Stockyard

Photograph 3-2-7 Sander

2 Use of a formwork: To bend rattan with an identical curvature as a component of furniture, aformwork comprising plywood and wooden pieces is necessary as shown below. Rattan is bent
along with the formwork and the curvature is fixed using steam.

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Photograph 3-2-8 Formwork

Photograph 3-2-9 Formwork production
process

3 Correction of flexure after setting up rattan: Although some errors may be unavoidable due to thenature of the natural material, it is important to manufacture products in accurate sizes and angles
according to the drawings as required for export products.

Photograph 3-2-10 Adjustment process5)

Products made of bamboo(1) Using bamboo originating from Ghana
As bamboos that originated from Ghana are bent at every joint, it is difficult to use them as seen in
Japan and Asia where a long stem is torn into thin pieces or woven and is used as molded plywood.
Designs that take advantage of the joint curvature or products that are produced by laminating shortpieces are recommended.

౮⌀ 㪌㪄㪈㪇㩷 䉉䈏䉂ୃᱜ㩷 Photograph 3-2-11 Railing ofGreen School in Bali. Such adesign as this that utilizes the
cross section (torn vertically)
brings out the feature of curved
bamboo.

(2) Use of bamboo originating from China
If a plantation that is currently under experimental operation in Ghana turns out to be successful,various commercial possibilities will arise including delicate bamboo crafts to furniture using laminatedplywood. In this case, as products intended for the export industry rather than for the domestic market
can be considered, it is recommended to design furniture with a knockdown structure(assembling/disassembling).

Photograph 3-2-12 Bamboo Knockdown Table

6)

Products made of African date palms

The small leaves are used to produce various products. In this section, the use of the palms as thefurniture material for seating sections of chairs is recommended.
As the material varies in thickness, the material tends to end up with a rough finish if it is combined withan uneven frame such as bamboo or rattan. To take advantage of the softness and roughness of thematerial, it is advisable to use timber or metal for the frame.

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3-3 Living in Africa in a cool environment using everyday natural materials- Cool Africa
Global warming is having an impact upon Africa as well as
the rest of the world, and many cases of flooding in dry lands
and a dramatic reduction in corn harvest due to drought havebeen reported. In this environment of an accelerated global
warming phenomenon, the author believes that theconventional knowledge of cooling effects that have been
passed down through generations in the tropical rainforest
regions in Africa should be introduced into the regions that
Akachi District, Volta Region
are affected by the accelerating global warming trends towidely promote the lifestyle indigenous to Africa, rather thanpursuing a high energy-consumption oriented lifestyle. Sales ofhousehold instruments that are produced in the regions by thepeople who have the knowledge and resources for creating a coolenvironment bring economical merits to the producers and also
provide a method for coping with a hot climate comfortably tothe purchasers of the products. The author recommends the
production and promotion of the products of "cool Africa" thatare produced taking advantage of the "knowledge and resourcesof Africa."
This section introduces the devices used by the people in the
coastal region of Ghana to spend their daily lives staying as coolas possible as witnessed by the author.

Single-layer mat made of thestems of cattail and giant
bulrushFirstly, mats are often used. A mat that is made by weaving thestems of cattail or jointed bulrush in a single layer can be easily
rolled up and carried to a shaded location under a tree to performhandiwork or to rest. The mat is far more comfortable than avinyl mat due to its excellent elasticity and water absorbability.
A thick mat of 2 m in length or more can also be made by tying
Thick mat made of giant
about 10 bulrush pieces with strings. This type of mat is used bulrush
for bedding. Unlike sponge mats, the mat, which has excellent
porosity, does not accumulate heat as it is, insulates against the heat from the ground, and enables theuser to spend hot nights more comfortably. By promoting the use of these mats, the living environment
can be improved in terms of sanitation also.
Although mats made of natural materials are less durable than vinyl mats, they are environmentallyfriendly as they decompose into the soil after disposal. The author observed several types of mats thatare made effectively using locally available materials.
Let us consider the reed screen, which is one of the traditional general products. A reed screen is
produced by weaving stems of reeds that grow on the waterfront. The author witnessed a fish-weir(device for catching fish) in the swamp colony of the Volta Region. By weaving more densely, a
product similar to the Japanese reed screen can be created. As the technique is already available, the application is not difficult. The tools can also be produced by anyone easily and cheaply. The makingof such a product can be easily introduced as a side job during the agricultural off-season or as a means toearn small income for old people.
As a reed screen is placed at an angle under the eaves, the shade that is created by the reed screen createsa small upward current, thereby creating a slight breeze. The screen is also useful for preventing theaccumulation of heat on a wall or floor by covering the entire wall or floor.
Iseki advocates the "Cool Africa" movement that enables African people to live in a cool environment
using readily available plants including reed and cattail. In Africa where propagation of information isstill undeveloped, good products are not effectively introduced to other areas. By improving materials
and production methods through effective communication, incomes can be increased by expanding thescope of use from personal use as well as by producing products that contribute to the improvement of
the people's livelihood.

<Measures for promoting Cool Africa>* Collect materials and products that contribute to a cool environment, exchange opinions among the
producers, and improve the quality and designs.
* Explain the merits of such products and hold sales promotion meetings in high-class shopping
malls in major cities.
* Advertise the merits of the products on TV and radio commercial spots and posters.
* Promote the use of the products at schools and government offices.
* Establish a Cool Africa accreditation mark.

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