The Ghana Beauty Awards marked its 10th anniversary last Friday in Accra, drawing top brands, makeup artists, entrepreneurs and industry stakeholders for an evening of glamour and recognition.
Chief Executive Officer Rebecca Donkor opened the ceremony with the theme “10 Years of Impact: The Legacy Era,” noting that the awards had evolved from a simple ceremony into a catalyst for sector development.
Donkor recalled the founding goal of the platform: “We set out to create a platform that would recognize excellence in Ghana’s beauty and wellness industry,” she said. “But recognition alone was not enough.” She highlighted the 2018 standardisation project with the Ghana Standards Authority, which produced a draft Code of Conduct and representation on the Authority’s technical committee.
The Awards also partnered with the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) to champion Ghana’s first Makeup Artistry Curriculum at Levels 3 and 4, later expanding to a Higher National Diploma under the National TVET Qualification Framework.
Through the Beauty and Wellness Sector Skills Body, new pathways have emerged in Paramedical Aesthetics, Paramedical Trichology and Beauty Products Manufacturing, providing career routes for Ghanaians to acquire specialised skills.
On business support, Donkor cited collaboration with the Ghana Enterprise Agency and the Ghana Skills Development Fund, which helped secure approximately US$2.2 million in funding for businesses, including during the COVID‑19 pandemic.
A major announcement was the launch of the Ghana Beauty & Wellness Report, developed with the University of Ghana, College of Humanities. The report will offer an evidence‑based account of the industry’s economic contribution, business landscape, workforce, skills, trends, challenges and opportunities, aiming to influence policy, attract investment and empower businesses.
Donkor also unveiled The Beauty & The Beat, a podcast giving winners a platform to share their journeys, with ten episodes already released.
She congratulated the winners, noting that the awards combine expert jury assessments, public voting and vetting by the Awards Board to uphold credibility and fairness.
Calling for collaboration between government and industry, Donkor urged focus on skills development, standards, tourism, manufacturing, investment, exports and job creation. “When you invest in this industry, you invest in people. You invest in jobs. You invest in enterprise. And you invest in the future of Ghana,” she said.
Looking ahead, Donkor expressed a desire for stronger standards, more accredited institutions, certified professionals, and businesses able to access funding, adopt technology, create jobs and expand internationally. “We want young people to see beauty and wellness as a viable pathway to entrepreneurship, professional development and wealth creation,” she added.
The ceremony was attended by Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Kofi Okyere Darko, Hamamat Montia, actress Martha Ankomah, and Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, represented by Shamima Muslim. An anniversary cake was cut to close the event.
