Vegetable Tanning in Bolgatanga: Challenges and the Way Forward

Abstract

The research is a case study in Bolgatanga which used the qualitative design. The Researcher depended on semi-structured interviews, observations and focus group discussions to extract data from leather tanners sampled from three tanning communities in the Bolgatanga municipality, namely; Yikene, Tanzui and Nawomaya all in the Upper East Region of Ghana. 60 respondents who were purposively selected from the above communities constituted the sample. The study attempted to unveil the causes of the characteristic offensive odour associated with leather from these communities. The researcher therefore studied the tanning materials, tools and methods used in processing leather from the above mentioned communities in order to uncover the source of the problem. The study revealed that even though the tanners used scientifically backed traditional methods to process their leathers, the re-using of some of the leather processing mixtures and inadequate rinsing regimes, were the main setbacks contributing to the offensive odor. Relevant recommendations were made to redress the shortcomings.

Keywords: Bolgatanga Leather, Vegetable tanning, Hides and skins, Dyeing, Acacia nilotica.