ICU urges GHABA members to transform hairdressing skills into sustainable enterprises

The General Secretary of the Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU-Ghana), Morgan Ayawine, has encouraged members of the Ghana Hairdressers and Beauticians Association (GHABA) to transform their skills and creativity into sustainable businesses. Ayawine believed that enterprise development could enhance practitioners' economic independence while generating employment opportunities for others.

He emphasized this point at the opening of the GHABA Hair Festival 2026 held at the University of Ghana, Legon, Accra on September 29, 2023. The festival was themed, “Transforming the Beauty Industry Through Skills, Creativity, and Enterprise Development.”

Ayawine underscored the relevance of the theme, emphasizing that enterprise development serves as a crucial avenue to economic empowerment. He urged practitioners to transition from merely offering their skills to others to constructing enterprises around their expertise. He noted that rather than working for others, they could convert their knowledge and skills into income-generating ventures, consequently creating wealth for themselves and employment for the youth.

Starting a business, Ayawine acknowledged, necessitates determination, perseverance, discipline, honesty, and hard work. Despite these prerequisites, he assured them that with faith in God, sound planning, and commitment—while adhering to ethical practices—one could gradually build a prosperous enterprise. He cautioned aspiring entrepreneurs not to wait for substantial capital before venturing into business.

Instead, they could begin with modest facilities, such as a kiosk, container, or other suitable premises. He also advised them to acquire basic hairdressing and cosmetology equipment and, if necessary, hire one or two apprentices. Ayawine noted that starting small was acceptable—capitalizing on available resources and expanding operations as their businesses grew.

Ayawine further highlighted potential sources of start-up capital, including family and friends, microfinance institutions, banks, and personal savings. He also acknowledged the long-standing relationship between ICU-Ghana and GHABA. Dating back to the association’s inception in the 1970s, ICU-Ghana has consistently provided support to GHABA's growth, enabling it to become a robust, vibrant, and self-sustaining organization.

He recalled ICU-Ghana's past assistance in facilitating international cosmetology training for GHABA trainers, which equipped them with new knowledge, skills, and international best practices to share with their trainees.

The GHABA Hair Festival serves as a platform for practitioners to exhibit their craftsmanship, creativity, and professionalism while connecting with potential clients. Furthermore, it underscores the role of skills development and enterprise creation in Ghana's informal economy, where hairdressing and cosmetology provide livelihoods for practitioners and apprentices nationwide.

Ayawine emphasized that bolstering entrepreneurship among skilled professionals could help convert individual skills into sustainable businesses, income opportunities, and employment.