As part of the Wear Ghana month celebration, organized by Street Fashion Train in collaboration with the National Commission on Culture and Ghana Broadcasting Corporation was an award ceremony dubbed “Ghana Fashion Industry Honours /Awards”.

The purpose of the awards is to appreciate and acknowledge the individuals, institutions and corporate bodies that has contributed positively to Ghana Fashion Industry.

The atmosphere was filled with personalities from all walks of life.

The Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament and MP for Nadowli/Kaleo, Alban Kingsford Sumani Bagbin and about ten other Members of Parliament where honoured at the maiden edition of Ghana Fashion Industry Honours and Awards night, held in Accra to climax the ‘Wear Ghana Month’ campaign.

The ten Members of Parliament are: MP for Kpando, Dela Sowa, MP for Shama Ato Panford, MP for Abrim, John Frimpong Osei, MP for Ho West, Emmanuel Kwasi and MP for Agona East, Queenstar Pokuah Sawyerr

The rest are: MP for Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo, MP for Shai-Osudoku, Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, MP for Cape Coast North, Barbara Asher Ayisi, MP for Jirapa, Dr. Francis Bawaana Dakura and MP for Weija Gbawe, Tina Gifty Naa Ayeley Mensah.

Personalities and institutions like the Highlife legend Amandzeba (Nat Brew), Abeiku Santana, Mr Fred Nai, Exotic Modeling Agency, Abbi Creation, Darling Hair, Blue Crest, 2ndImage, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings among others were honoured for promoting the local fashion industry.

Speaking at the show, the former Deputy Minister Gender and Social Protection, MP for Kpando, and Wear Ghana Ambassador, Dela Sowa, challenged the industry players to up their game by seeking additional knowledge, using the internet and other means to come up with fantastic designs using the local fabric for the international market, adding that…”our economy will be vibrant if we can take our cloth culture to the global level”.

She however, bemoaned the excessive usage of English language by some Ghanaian parents at home to their children, stressing the fact that, “Ghanaians must speak their Local Languages first, buy and eat Ghana made products and wear Ghana at all times.

In her address, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts and MP for Evalue-Ajomoro-Gwira, Catherine Abelema Afeku,who also was honored for promoting Ghana’s clothe culture,appealed to all to be more patriotic by wearing Ghana more often, if not every day to support the local industry.

She also called on the designers to be more innovative and creative and have time for good packaging to attract attention.

The organizers of The “Wear Ghana Month,” Street Fashion Train in Collaboration with the National Commission on Culture (NCC), and The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) were optimistic of having very successful programs throughout the month of March.

The CEO of Street Fashion Train Benjamin Kojo-Mills, who could not hide excitements, said that, Wear Ghana Month has come to stay and it shall be observed every year to recognize and acknowledge individuals and companies for raising the flag of Ghana high locally and internationally.

Wear Ghana Month, a national campaign to promote the country’s cloth cultural heritage and boost the local textile and fashion industries was launched in Accra, on 9th march, 2018 under the theme, “Wear Ghana to promote the fashion industry.

To be celebrated every March, Ghana’s independence month, the campaign is in honour of Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of Ghana who was passionate about the Ghanaian cultural heritage.

The award night was chaired by The Minister of Information, Mustapha Hamid “under the theme: Rewarding Creativity and Excellence in Fashion.”

 

Submitted