Preserving indigenous knowledge for development in northern Ghana: Exploring the views of artisans in the art and craft industry in the Upper East Region

Indigenous Knowledge (IK) plays a crucial role in revenue generation and local economic development in Ghana. This paper explores the strategies and challenges in preserving indigenous knowledge within the arts and crafts industry, particularly in Northern Ghana. Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) and the cultural sustainability theories underpinned the study. With a constructionist approach through qualitative methods, the study explored local views on the preservation practices of artisans in the art and craft industry. Sixty-nine (69) participants (artisans) were purposively sampled from six production centres in the study area. Out of this number, nine consisted of in-depth interviews with retired artisans serving as key informants, while ten in each production centre participated in focused group discussions (FGDs). Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data collected using interview guides. The results demonstrate the significant contribution of traditional arts and crafts to the social, economic, cultural, and spiritual lives of indigenous people within the local communities in the Upper East Region. However, the following were identified as challenges in the preservation of IK: loss of interest by the younger generations, lack of support from governmental institutions and agencies, and access to markets for finished products. Based on the findings mentioned above, the study recommends integrating IK into the formal educational curriculum to serve as a conduit for intergenerational knowledge transfer, which should include practical steps for engaging youth and enhancing the involvement of governmental agencies and institutions in the tourism and arts sectors to support access to markets for finished products. Also, policies targeted towards preserving IK must be economically beneficial, culturally sensitive, and locally informed. This paper contributes to the paucity of academic literature by focusing on preservation in the art and crafts industry in Northern Ghana, which is often neglected despite its immense contribution to the economic growth of the informal sector.