ICU urges GHABA members to transform hairdressing skills into sustainable enterprises

Morgan Ayawine, the General Secretary of the Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU-Ghana), has called on members of the Ghana Hairdressers and Beauticians Association (GHABA) to convert their talents into sustainable businesses. According to Ayawine, this shift could enable hairdressers to achieve greater financial independence while also generating employment opportunities for others.

At the launch of the GHABA Hair Festival 2026, which is centered on the theme “Transforming the Beauty Industry Through Skills, Creativity, and Enterprise Development,” Deputy General Secretary Emmanuel Benimah delivered Ayawine’s address. Ayawine emphasized that the festival’s theme is particularly relevant, as enterprise development offers a crucial route to economic empowerment.

He urged practitioners not merely to share their skills with others, but to build enterprises around their expertise. “Rather than working for others, you can turn your knowledge and skills into enterprises that generate income and create wealth for yourself and employment for the youth,” he stated. Starting a business, Ayawine acknowledged, demands determination, perseverance, discipline, honesty, and hard work.

He advised aspiring entrepreneurs to remain faith in God, employ sound planning, and remain committed to their goals, without engaging in dishonest practices. Ayawine also urged practitioners not to wait for substantial capital before launching their business. Instead, he suggested that entrepreneurs could start with modest facilities, such as a kiosk, container, or similar premises, and gradually scale up their operations as their businesses expand.

“You can begin modestly. Secure a small space, acquire the essential hairdressing and cosmetology equipment, and, if necessary, hire one or two apprentices,” Ayawine recommended. He identified family and friends, microfinance institutions, banks, and personal savings as potential sources of startup capital. Ayawine also highlighted the long-standing partnership between ICU-Ghana and GHABA, dating back to the association’s beginnings in the 1970s.

He mentioned that the union has consistently supported GHABA’s growth, helping it evolve into a robust, vibrant, and self-sustaining organization. He recalled that ICU-Ghana had previously assisted GHABA trainers by providing international cosmetology training, enabling them to acquire new knowledge, skills, and insights into international best practices.

These opportunities, Ayawine explained, enabled trainers to pass on their learnings to their trainees. For ICU-Ghana, Ayawine stressed that enhancing entrepreneurship among skilled professionals could transform individual skills into sustainable businesses, income opportunities, and employment.