2+ week, 2+ day ago (326+ words) Kente cloth, the vibrant woven fabric originating from the Ashanti, Akan, and Ewe people of Ghana, has long symbolized wealth, royalty, and tribal identity. Over time, its cultural significance has spread across the African diaspora. Today, replicas of Kente produced outside Ghana are widely available. Ghana is now taking steps to protect its authentic tradition and stand up against copycats. Last month, the Ghanaian government announced that Kente has officially received geographical indication status through the World Intellectual Property Organization, an arm of the United Nations that collaborates with the World Trade Organization. This protection aims to safeguard local artisans and the textile's heritage by ensuring that only Kente cloth woven in Ghana is recognized as authentic. Susan Scafidi, founder and academic director of the Fashion Law Institute, said that while geographical indication status is similar to a trademark, enforcing…...