Silenced Twice: The pain of male rape in Ghana

A Level 300 production by Daniel Owusu Darko 

An on Going Wele Business 

In Ghana, Cowhide, locally known as Wele, is a beloved delicacy across West Africa. In Nigeria, it is called "pomo," while people in Cameroon and Sierra Leone refer to it as "Canda."

 According to Greenviews.com, the Hausa people introduced Wele to Ghanaian markets, bringing cowhides and other goods for sale.

Recently, Wele has seen a significant increase in price, leaving many sellers and consumers in distress. Mami Lizzie, “a prominent Wele supplier, shared insights into the supply chain: "I mostly get my Wele from Kenya, Botswana, and Ethiopia through agents there. We also pick dried cowhide from Togo and go through some duties because they come by sea."

In the past few months, the price of Wele has doubled from 10 GHS to 20 GHS, with some Wele now costing even more than 300 GHS. This dramatic price increase is hitting sellers hard, threatening their businesses.

Gladys Arduah, a Wele vendor "Now the Wele is expensive. The one for 5 cedis is now 10 cedis. The Wele has become very expensive; the one which is sold at 25 cedis is now 35 cedis. Something should be done so that we can also reduce prices for our customers."

Fresh Wele Cowhide at the Market 

The rising cost of Wele is also affecting consumers. because food vendors pass on the cost to them .Wele that used to sell  for 2 cedis or 3 cedis, now goes for 5 cedis and 10 cedis when selling food."

Other consumers expressed their disappointment, stating that cowhide has become so expensive that what they can afford does not serve its purpose. They add that buying 10 cedis worth of wele can not even satisfy them.

The preparation of Wele raises questions about its nutritional value. Made from cowhide, the process involves boiling, scraping, and drying, which can strip away some nutrients. Nonetheless, Wele still contains some protein and other nutrients, making its nutritional value a matter of personal judgment

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As the price of Wele continues to rise, sellers and consumers are left grappling with the financial strain. The beloved delicacy, once an affordable treat, is now a costly indulgence. The call for intervention is growing louder, as many hope for measures to stabilize the market and make Wele accessible once again.