Ghana concluded its inaugural Black Star Fashion Week on Saturday night in Akosombo, shifting the focus from metropolitan catwalks to the Eastern Region’s lakeside landscape as models walked the presidential runway.
Presidential Runway Showcase in Akosombo
The multi-day event opened earlier in the week with a summit at the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra organised by the Rex Omar-led Black Star Experience. Saturday’s finale brought traditional rulers, government officials, and international partners to the Royal Senchi Hotel to view collections from established and emerging Ghanaian designers.
The gathering also featured Joyce Ababio of JACCD Design Institute Africa and Kofi Okyere Darko, who serves as Director of Diaspora Affairs at the Office of the President.
We have come to Akosombo deliberately,
Rex Owusu Marfo, coordinator of the Black Star Experience Secretariat, told attendees in remarks reported by Xinhua. Our vision is simple yet very powerful. We are not in the conventional city hall; instead, we are in this serene, well-resourced area to showcase the beauty of Ghana beyond our capitals and to position Akosombo as a premium tourist destination.
Black Star Fashion Week has officially opened at the Royal Senchi Resort with a runway showcase celebrating Ghanaian fashion designers and emerging talents. President John Dramani Mahama is also set to walk the runway in three looks as part of efforts to support and promote… pic.twitter.com/b2EWCnBxAb
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Established labels such as Abrantie the Gentleman, Boyedoe, Kenneth Tetteh, Chocolate, Atto Tetteh, Quofi Akotuah, Nessa Atelier, BloombyEdzi, and Adjeponmaa shared the itinerary with participants from the 16-Region Designer Programme.
George Tetteh, a designer representing the Atto Tetteh brand, discussed the creative process behind his collections and emphasized that Ghana must make deliberate investments and build avenues to help local creators present their work internationally.
Titus Nartey Doku, another designer who focuses on transforming used clothing into modern designs, noted that stronger collaboration involving local textile manufacturers, media outlets, buyers, and government authorities is essential to expand the reach of domestic designers.
The venue at Senchi sits within a leisure corridor that includes the Volta Lake, the Akosombo Dam, and the Adomi Bridge, while nearby Krobo bead workshops offer additional ties to local craft traditions.
Industry Data and Annual Reports Planned for 2027
During the opening summit, Rex Omar announced that the Black Star Experience Secretariat will publish an annual Ghana fashion industry report starting next year. Organizers noted that reliable figures regarding employment, export earnings, and tourism spending remain scarce across the sector.
Black Star Fashion Week has officially opened at the Royal Senchi Resort with a runway showcase celebrating Ghanaian fashion designers and emerging talents. President John Dramani Mahama is also set to walk the runway in three looks as part of efforts to support and promote… pic.twitter.com/TbdgvlgIvj
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We cannot adequately develop an industry we do not sufficiently understand, and we cannot attract the level of investment we desire without the data and evidence to support our ambitions,
Rex Omar said, according to the Ghanaian Times. The planned publication aims to inform government policy, guide investment decisions, and strengthen domestic businesses.
Intellectual Property Protection for Indigenous Cultural Products
Panel discussions in Accra addressed the legal and commercial vulnerabilities facing traditional artisans. Stakeholders called for stronger intellectual property protection to safeguard indigenous goods such as kente cloth, fugu, and shea butter.
The panel discussions, moderated by broadcaster Chrystal Kwame-Aryee, featured author, historian, and anthropologist Osei Bonsu Sarfo Kantanka; Dr. Courage Besah-Adanu, Head of the Geographical Indications Unit at the Ghana Industrial Property Office; Andrew Ackah, President of the Advertising Association of Ghana; and Gideon Aryeetey, Secretary of the Creative Arts Council.
Calls for Global Integration and Economic Value
Keynote speaker Kwasi Kyei Darkwah, known as KKD, urged policymakers to treat fashion as a serious driver of trade and employment rather than a purely recreational enterprise. He highlighted the $1.84 trillion network of the global fashion industry spanning material sourcing, manufacturing, and retail.
Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts Abla Dzifa Gomashie told participants that fashion must be deliberately integrated into national tourism offerings. High-profile dignitaries in attendance at the final showcase included Ghana Tourism Authority CEO Maame Afua Hoadzeto and UNESCO representative Edmond Moukouala.
Organizers also honoured industry pioneers during the events, including Juliana Miranda Norley, Ricci Osei, Kofi Ansah, Joyce Ababio, Nora Bannerman, and Tetteh Adzedu, for their contributions to Ghanaian fashion.