Tourism Minister Pushes Fashion as Key Economic Growth Sector

Accra - Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has urged stakeholders to treat fashion as a strategic pillar of Ghana's creative economy, citing its potential to create jobs, drive entrepreneurship, attract investment and boost exports.

Speaking at the maiden Black Star Fashion Week Summit in Accra, she said Ghana's rich cultural heritage, including Kente, Adinkra, traditional weaving and textile design, provides a strong foundation for fashion innovation and global competitiveness.

The Minister noted that the fashion value chain spans textile production, design, manufacturing, modelling, marketing and retail, creating opportunities for thousands of young people.

She also highlighted the link between fashion, culture and tourism, proposing the integration of fashion events, textile exhibitions and creative markets into Ghana's tourism offerings to attract more visitors and generate revenue.

The four-day summit, themed "Put Ghanaian Fashion in the World," brings together policymakers, academics, industry leaders and development partners to discuss ways of strengthening Ghana's fashion industry.

Madam Gomashie called on Ghanaians to support local designers and products, stressing that creativity remains one of the country's most valuable and renewable resources.

The event will climax with the Presidential Runway at the Royal Senchi Hotel in Akosombo on November 7.

Also speaking at the summit, Rex Owusu Marfo, Coordinator of the Black Star Experience, called for stronger partnerships to build a globally competitive and commercially viable fashion industry, while UNESCO Representative to Ghana, Edmond Moukala, urged greater investment in culture to drive economic growth and opportunities.