KNUST Research Week and Scientific Conference: Empowering Researchers to Achieve Impactful Outcomes

This research investigates the potential of Mfensi clay in the production of souvenirs to enhance Ghana’s artistic, cultural, and economic landscape. Although pottery traditions in Ashanti Region communities such as Pankrono, Afari, and Mfensi are well established, their products are rarely positioned as souvenirs within the tourist market. This study addressed the gap by creatively experimenting with Mfensi clay to produce souvenir items that reflect both the material’s inherent characteristics and Ghana’s cultural heritage. A studio-based research methodology was adopted, employing triangulated data collection methods including observation, interviews, and photographic documentation. The findings demonstrated that Mfensi clay can be effectively transformed into diverse souvenir designs, supporting cultural preservation while generating opportunities for tourism and local economic development. The study recommends that potters be trained to design souvenirs beyond functional pottery, and that stakeholders such as the Kumasi Cultural Centre and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture organize workshops and apprenticeship programs to build creative capacity and expand market reach. This research emphasizes the importance of integrating traditional craft and creative innovation in promoting cultural heritage, human capital development, and sustainable economic growth.

Keywords: mfensi clay, souvenir, tourism development, Cultural heritage