A tour of the Cedi Bead Factory is a must for visitors to the Eastern Region of Ghana. Here, glass beads are made from recycled glass bottles and sold to markets and craft stores across the country and abroad. The art of making glass beads has a long history in Ghana. For the past 400 years, the finished products have been used in birth, coming of age, marriage and death ceremonies. Today, the city of Odumase Krobo and the wider Krobo district are particularly associated with the making of traditional glass beads.
At Cedi Bead Factory, you can see the intricate production process from start to finish. You can also stay overnight and learn to design your own beads.
Cedi Bead Factory
Tucked away on an unpaved road, Cedi Bead Factory isn’t the easiest place to find. Once you do, you will be rewarded with the view of a beautiful garden planted around the thatched roof building that serves as the factory itself. This is not a noisy center of industry. Cedi Bead Factory employs around 12 full-time employees and is surprisingly quiet. Tours are free and take approximately 30 minutes, making this the perfect stop for those heading to Kumasi or the Volta River. A small gift shop has some very nice beads for sale, as well as bracelets, earrings, and necklaces.
Tip: If you have empty glass bottles, you can recycle them at the factory. Rarer colored glass (such as red or blue) is particularly well received.
How the accounts are made
Recycled glass bottles are crushed with a heavy pestle and pestle. After reducing it to a fine powder, the glass is poured into a clay mold. The inside of the mold is covered with a mixture of kaolin and water to prevent the glass from sticking to the sides.
The powder can be layered to create different colors and patterns, or kept simple. When ready, the mold is placed in an oven and baked. Patterns and decorations can be added after the initial shot. In this case, the crushed glass powder is mixed with a little water and then painted over the bead, which is then fired a second time. Sometimes tint is added for brighter colors or when stained glass is not available. For more translucent beads, the glass is broken into small pieces, rather than being ground into a powder.
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The kiln is made of termite mound clay. It is heated using crushed palm kernels that burn at an extremely high temperature and retain heat well. Blacksmiths use the same grains in local Ghanaian villages to make axes and hoes. Glass beads are generally fired for an hour. As soon as they come out of the oven, a small metal tool is used to create a hole for the string to go in. Some bead holes are made from a cassava stem that burns during cooking, leaving a round hole.
Once the beads cool down, they are washed with sand and water. The beads are strung and ready for sale in colorful markets across the country.
Practical information
For independent travelers, the best way to reach Cedi Bead Factory is to take a tro-tro to the junction on the main road from Koforidua to Kpong, between the cities of Somanya and Odumase Krobo. From there it’s a good 20 minute walk down a bumpy road, so take a taxi if you can. Better yet, hire a private guide to take you there on the way to Ho or Akisombo, or reserve a spot on a guided tour.
Some guesthouses have been built on the premises, offering basic rooms and locally prepared meals. These are convenient if you want to spend a few days learning how to create your own glass bead masterpiece.
Where to buy glass beads
You can buy beads directly from the Cedi Bead Factory store. Alternatively, you will find the factory’s products at Ghana’s Best Bead Market, held every day in Koforidua. Another good market close to the fountain is the Agomanya market, which operates on Wednesdays and Saturdays. This market is also off the main road between Koforidua and Kpong. Additionally, a wide selection of recycled glass beads can be found in major markets in Kumasi and Accra.
This article was updated by Jessica Macdonald on March 21, 2017.
