Fashion should be considered strategic pillar of creative economy –Tourism Minister

Ghana’s Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has advocated for the recognition of fashion as a vital component of the nation's creative economy. Addressing the 2026 Black Star Fashion Summit, the minister highlighted fashion's potential to generate employment, attract investment, and expand exports.

She emphasized the significance of Ghana's cultural assets, such as Kente, Fugu, Adinkra symbols, beadwork, and embroidery, as a basis for innovation. Gomashie urged stakeholders to consider factors beyond the fashion industry, stating that with adequate investment, increased production capacity, and improved market access, the sector could create a substantial number of jobs, especially for the youth.

The minister further emphasized the importance of integrating fashion into Ghana's tourism offerings, suggesting that fashion weeks, textile exhibitions, cultural festivals, heritage tours, creative markets, and fashion showcases should be integral parts of the national tourism calendar. Gomashie also mentioned the government's aim to transform Ghana into a destination where visitors can experience the country's creativity, culture, and creative industries.

The 2026 Black Star Fashion Week, organized by the Rex Omar-led Black Star Experience, is set to take place from 7 November at the Royal Senchi Hotel in Akosombo, featuring the "Presidential Runway" fashion show.