KKD Urges Ghana to Build Fashion Industry Around Culture, Trade and Jobs

Ghana's Special Envoy to the Caribbean Region, Kwasi Kyei Darkwah, popularly known as KKD, has urged the government to position the fashion industry as a major driver of tourism, industrial growth and employment rather than treat it merely as a recreational or aesthetic enterprise.

Delivering the keynote address at the Black Star Fashion Week Runway Event on Saturday, November 7, KKD said strategic investment in the sector could turn Ghana's cultural identity into economic opportunities while creating jobs across the fashion value chain.

"By positioning our nation as a vibrant fashion hub, we stimulate cultural tourism, drawing travellers who will fill our hotels, visit our markets and carry our heritage back to the global stage," he noted.

A $1.84 Trillion Global Industry

He highlighted the economic potential of the global fashion industry, describing it as a $1.84 trillion network spanning design, raw material sourcing, manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, retail and consumption.

KKD urged government officials and policymakers who regard fashion as a "playful enterprise" to recognise the industry's value chain and its potential to support industrialisation.

Honouring Fashion Pioneers

The Black Star Fashion Week Runway Event brought together stakeholders in Ghana's fashion industry, with emerging designers showcasing their creations. The event also honoured personalities who have made significant contributions to the development of Ghana's fashion industry, including Juliana Miranda Norley, Ricci Osei, Kofi Ansah, Joyce Ababio, Nora Bannerman and Tetteh Adzedu.

Background to Ghana's Fashion Industry

Ghana's fashion industry has gained increasing international attention in recent years, driven by the global popularity of African prints, the rise of Ghanaian designers on international runways, and the success of events such as Accra Fashion Week and the Black Star Fashion Week. The country's textile heritage, particularly the iconic Kente cloth, has been a source of cultural pride and a potential economic asset.

However, the industry faces significant challenges, including competition from cheap imported textiles, limited access to financing for emerging designers, inadequate infrastructure for large-scale manufacturing, and a fragmented value chain that often relies on imports for raw materials and finished goods.

The government has in recent years signaled its intention to revive Ghana's textile and garment industry, with initiatives such as the "Wear Ghana" campaign and the proposed Weta garment factory in the Volta Region, which President Mahama announced would create up to 10,000 jobs. The Ghana Export-Import Bank (EXIM Bank) has also been tasked with supporting the sector through financing and industrial development.

The African Fashion Market

The global fashion industry's focus on Africa has grown significantly, with international brands and retailers increasingly sourcing from the continent and African designers gaining prominence on global stages. The African fashion market is estimated to be worth billions of dollars, with countries such as Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and Ghana emerging as key hubs.

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), whose Secretariat is headquartered in Accra, is expected to boost intra-African trade in textiles and garments, creating new opportunities for Ghanaian designers and manufacturers to access larger markets.

KKD's Role as Special Envoy

Kwasi Kyei Darkwah, a veteran broadcaster, fashion icon and cultural ambassador, was appointed Ghana's Special Envoy to the Caribbean Region by President Mahama. In that role, he has been tasked with strengthening cultural and economic ties between Ghana and Caribbean nations, particularly in the areas of tourism, trade and the creative arts.

His focus on fashion as a tool for economic diplomacy aligns with the government's broader strategy of leveraging Ghana's cultural assets — including its fashion, music, film and cuisine — to boost tourism and exports.

What's Next

The Black Star Fashion Week Runway Event is expected to become an annual fixture on Ghana's fashion calendar, providing a platform for emerging designers to showcase their work and connect with international buyers and investors. The event's organisers have indicated that future editions will include trade shows, business-to-business matchmaking sessions and policy dialogues aimed at addressing the industry's structural challenges.

For Ghana's fashion industry to realize its potential, stakeholders say the government must address key bottlenecks, including access to affordable financing, improved textile manufacturing capacity, stronger intellectual property protections for designers, and better market access through trade agreements and export promotion programmes.

KKD's call for a strategic approach to fashion development adds to a growing chorus of voices urging the government to treat the creative industries as serious economic sectors rather than cultural adornments.