Baba Tree Basket Company

Baba Tree Basket Company is a design-led basket-weaving company and artisan community in Bolgatanga, in Ghana's Upper East Region — a town known as the "City of Baskets". Founded in 2002 by Gregory MacCarthy, who first visited Ghana in 1999, it produces handwoven Bolga baskets, pendant lampshades and wall pieces from elephant grass, with each piece woven by a named maker.

The company describes itself as working with between 180 and 200 weavers; third-party retailers describe a community of over 250 artisans, many Gurunsi, drawn from Bolgatanga and surrounding communities such as Gambibgo, Winkongo, Yipalla and Dulugu. Master weavers have developed signature techniques, including the "Wave" technique created with the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad, India. In 2026 the master weavers received a special mention at the LOEWE FOUNDATION Craft Prize for "Frafra Tapestry", developed with Spanish designer Álvaro Catalán de Ocón's PET Lamp project.

For a visitor, the interest lies in seeing a working craft operation rather than a staged display: this is a production site where baskets are made, stored and shipped. The Ghana compound is at Hakim House, Asumda Estates, Tamale Rd, Tindonsobligo, Bolgatanga. Visitors can observe weaving and, according to Wanderlust magazine, try weaving a basket; a third-party operator directory likewise describes hands-on weaving sessions alongside fair-trade basket sales.

Practical planning is limited by what the operator publishes. Baba Tree's own pages do not set out visitor access arrangements — no opening hours, tour times, entry fees or booking process are stated. The company's published contact details are email [email protected], phone +233 54 572-3486 and WhatsApp +233 54 5723486, which is the appropriate route for confirming whether and when a visit is possible. No verified coordinates are available for the site, so the street address should be used for navigation. Because this is a working compound, treat any visit as subject to confirmation in advance.