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Calabash: Symbol of Ghanaian culture, pride
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FOR generations, the calabash, a dried gourd shell known for its versatility, has remained an integral part of Ghanaian culture and tradition.
Native to Africa and widely used across tropical and subtropical regions, the calabash (Lagenaria siceraria or Crescentia cujete) has served as a container, utensil, musical instrument resonator, and decorative piece.
From Nigeria to Senegal, The Gambia to Mali, and across Ghana, it has carried water, stored food, and shaped instruments such as rattles and harps.
Cultural significance
In Ghana, the calabash symbolises nourishment, resilience, wisdom, and life.
• The calabash fruit
ments showcased internationally, including Berlin Fashion Week 2025, blending tradition with innovation.
Eco-friendly packaging: Skincare brand, Nokware, uses calabash shells for soaps and cleansers, merging tradition with sustainable luxury.
This trend is also part of a broader movement toward sustainable fashion. As a natural, biodegradable material, calabash offers an eco-friendly alternative to synthetics.
Preserving heritage
Mr Godson Lucky Tome, Director of the Centre for National Culture in Krachi East, stressed the importance of safeguarding calabash-making.
He stated that: “The calabash is a symbol of our cultural identity, and we must continue to promote and preserve it for future generations.”
Efforts by artisans and cultural institutions are ensuring that calabash-making remains vibrant, blending tradition with innovation.
A lasting symbol
calabash offcuts.
Lecturer Patience Dedume of the Department of Fashion Design and Textiles of the Ho Technical University, highlighted its versatility.
She indicated that: “Today, calabash is used in accessories, garment construction, and even beauty packaging, bridging cultural heritage with modern sustainable design.”
The calabash can be seen in jewelry and adornment, necklaces, earrings; bangles carved from calabash.
It is more than a household tool; it is a cultural emblem woven into ceremonies, rituals, and everyday living.
Nana Kwame Agyeman, linguist of the Akroso Traditional Council, explained: “Calabash is more than just a container; it is a symbol of our tradition and cultural heritage. No ritual undertaking is concluded without it.”
Weddings, funerals, and rites of passage often feature the calabash as a sign of unity and continuity.
Commerce and community
Beyond rituals, the calabash plays a vital role in local trade.
Palmwine Seller, Togbe Azanda of the Kparekpare community, said: “We use it to serve palm wine to our customers — it represents hospitality and generosity.”
Similarly, Madam Rita Akua Serwaa, Pito brewer in Dambai Old Town, praised the practicality of the calabash.
She said: “The calabash keeps the drink fresh and even adds to its flavour. Its use fosters social cohesion, bringing people together during celebrations and times of mourning, while teaching values of cooperation and community living.”
Fashion and innovation
The calabash’s journey from ritual vessel to runway accessory reflects a broader movement to reclaim indigenous materials as markers of pride and identity.
Designers such as the late Kofi Ansah pioneered its use in high fashion, while contemporary brands like Adjeley craft bold jewelry from recycled
• Calabash used as a handbag for women
In the textile industry, it is used for tools: Stamps for Adinkra cloth printing, carrying symbolic meanings.
In high fashion: Avant-garde garments showcased internationally.
From ritual ceremonies to modern fashion runways, from palm wine sellers to luxury skincare brands, the calabash continues to inspire and educate.
It stands as a lasting symbol of Ghana’s rich cultural heritage — a humble gourd that embodies tradition, creativity and sustainability, echoing tradition to exotic resource.
A GNA Feature by Kingsley Mamore
A Prophet and General Overseer of Jesus Prayer Ministry at Ejisu Asuasi, Kumasi, and Pig Farm, Accra, Rt. Rev. Dr Mrs Grace Frimpong-Boateng, has urged Ghanaians to pray fervently to avert any disaster that would endanger many.
“God hears prayers, and intercessory prayers will provide your family safety and protection so you can live long and enjoy life in this world,” she added.
Rt. Rev. Dr Mrs Frimpong-Boateng was speaking with The Spectator in an interview last week.
According to her, she had a revelation that there would be a tragedy that will harm many people, however, effective prayers can avert it.
She said that the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) predicted another heavy downpour from Thursday to Sunday following the recent torrential rain that devastated Accra and other areas. However, strong intercessory prayers prevented the prediction, which would have been catastrophic.
She claims that whenever she shares something that God has revealed to her, she does not receive widespread support from people to join her in effective intercession.
As a result, she has urged everyone including members of parliament, cabinet ministers, traditional authorities, religious leaders, and other citizens to exercise caution and pray fervently in order to avoid premature death.
According to Rt. Rev. Dr Mrs Frimpong-Boateng the recent downpour in Accra which claimed lives and destroyed property was unusual.
“The sea was irritated because of certain rituals performed and caused it to spew forth, exposing the dirt.” There are still some rites in the sea, and they will definitely surface,” she disclosed.
“Let’s pray that God would burn and destroy the things that have contaminated the sea,” she indicated.
By Spectator
The Adentan Circuit Court has convicted a mason for stealing a four-year-old boy from Kpedze in the Volta Region and bringing him to Accra.
David Kpandoyo, 25, a Togolese national, pleaded guilty to a charge of child stealing.
The court, presided over by Mrs Angela Attachie, convicted him on his own plea and adjourned sentencing to July 14, 2026.
Kpandoyo told the court that he had gone to a drinking spot to consume alcohol when the child approached him.
He said he gave the boy some money, took him home, and could not remember what happened afterwards because he was intoxicated.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Patience Mario, assisted by Chief Inspector Jacob Nyarko, led the prosecution.
The prosecution said the complainant, Mr Bismark Gbago, is a 52-year-old painter residing at New Legon in Accra.
The victim’s mother, Ms Patience Ablordefey Afefa, is a 25-year-old hairdresser living at Kpedze in the Volta Region with the victim, a Kindergarten One pupil.
The prosecution said Kpandoyo also resided at New Legon, where he worked as a mason.
It said the victim went missing at Kpedze on July 1, 2026, at about 18:00 hours.
On July 3, at about 6:30pm, the complainant reported to the New Legon Police that he had found the four-year-old boy wandering around the area and that the child was unable to identify his home.
The prosecution said that on July 4, at about 4 p.m., the complainant informed the Police that after announcements were made within the community, Kpandoyo came forward claiming that the boy was his son.
The complainant and Kpandoyo subsequently went to the police Station to identify the child.
However, Kpandoyo was unable to produce the child’s birth certificate or lead the Police to the child’s mother.
Later that day, the police received a flyer bearing the name and telephone numbers of the victim’s mother, together with the child’s photograph, indicating that he had gone missing from Kpedze.
The police contacted the victim’s mother and asked her to report to the New Legon Police Station with the child’s birth certificate and weighing card because another person was claiming to be the child’s parent.
On July 6, the victim’s mother and her relatives reported to the Police Station and stated that they did not know Kpandoyo.
During investigations, Kpandoyo admitted in his cautioned statement that the victim was not his child.
He further confessed that while working at Kpedze, he stole the boy and brought him to Accra. –GNA
