On Saturday night, the Black Star Fashion Week concluded in Akosombo, Ghana’s Eastern Region, as designers gathered on a presidential runway to present collections steeped in Ghanaian heritage, music and dance. The event attracted a diverse crowd that included traditional rulers, government officials, industry leaders and international partners, all focused on exploring avenues for growth, investment and global collaboration.
Rex Owusu Marfo, coordinator of the Black Star Experience Secretariat, explained that the week‑long festival was intentionally located outside of the capital to showcase the country’s beauty beyond its metropolitan centers and to position Akosombo as a premium tourist destination.
Rex Owusu Marfo
"We have come to Akosombo deliberately. 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," he said.
Designers highlighted how cultural heritage informs their work and emphasized the need for concerted efforts to elevate Ghanaian fashion on the international stage.
George Tetteh
"A lot of things go into a creative process, but predominantly it is our heritage, our culture, and then also fashion trends and everything that comes together for a creative to make a collection," he said. "Ghana has to make it an intentional effort and investment and then also create avenues like this for us to be able to show our work."
Titus Nartey Doku
"It’s a lot of work that needs to be done, and then it can be done. We need to go to our own local textile industry," he said. "We need the media, and we need buyers. We need the government involved in trying to push the designers out there, outside the shores of Ghana."
When models walked the runway, vivid prints and contemporary silhouettes celebrated traditional Ghanaian textiles and patterns, underscoring the designers’ commitment to preserving cultural narratives while engaging with modern fashion trends.
Stakeholders discussed potential partnerships to amplify local talent. Several government representatives acknowledged the importance of sustaining this momentum and pledged increased support for fashion education, industrial development and export promotion.
International partners expressed enthusiasm for collaboration, noting that the Black Star Fashion Week provides a platform to showcase Ghanaian creativity to global buyers and media.
Key themes emerged from the event: the fusion of heritage and innovation, the need for infrastructure and investment, and the role of media and government in expanding market reach. Speakers consistently underscored that Ghanaian designers already possess the creative vision and resourcefulness to compete globally, but require intentional support and actionable steps to realize that potential.
In closing, the festival’s leaders reiterated their commitment to nurturing local designers and positioning Akosombo, and Ghana at large, as a fashion hub that honours its cultural roots while embracing contemporary global standards.
