Ghana’s iconic northern smock, fugu, is gaining growing international recognition, with several foreign ministers requesting customised versions in their national colours, according to Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
Speaking on the rising interest, the Foreign Affairs Minister revealed that demand for the traditional fabric has become so strong that he has been invited to make a presentation on fugu at an upcoming diplomatic meeting.
“The fugu is in such high demand that virtually all the foreign ministers have asked that I do a presentation to them at the next meeting. If I knew it would be in such demand, I would have come with truckloads of fugus,” he said.
Mr. Ablakwa disclosed that some of his counterparts have repeatedly reached out, seeking ways to acquire the smock, prompting his office to connect them with delivery companies. However, he noted that supply has struggled to meet demand.
“My counterpart keeps calling me, asking where they can find the fugu. We connected them to delivery companies, but they say the quantity is not enough. So, we are going to have a huge trade fair there,” he explained.
The Foreign Affairs Minister described the growing interest as a boost for economic diplomacy, stressing the importance of promoting Ghanaian-made products on the global stage.
“It’s good for economic diplomacy. We should promote Made in Ghana and expose our fabrics and beautiful cultures to other people. All of this is marketing Ghana and showing the beauty of Ghana,” he stated.
He added that the organic global exposure generated by the fugu far outweighs what the state could afford through conventional branding efforts.
“If we were to pay marketing or branding firms for this level of publicity, I don’t think the state could afford the bills they would bring,” Mr. Ablakwa remarked.
The growing international appeal of the fugu highlights the potential of Ghana’s cultural heritage as both a diplomatic and economic asset on the global stage.
