Joyce Ababio, founder and President of the JACCD Design Institute Africa, warned that creativity alone will not carry Ghana’s fashion industry onto the world stage. Speaking at the Black Star Experience Fashion Summit in Accra on 4 November, she called for greater investment in technical training and skilled manufacturing professionals.
Ababio noted that while Ghana has made good progress in training creative designers, the gap lies in specialised personnel who can turn design concepts into quality products that meet international production standards. “We need skilled pattern drafters, quality control people, technicians who understand production and how to run their lines,” she said.
The panel, themed “The State of Ghana Fashion: From Potential to Industry,” also featured Director of Diaspora Affairs Office of the President Kofi Okyere Darko, who highlighted hurdles such as inadequate capital, inconsistent sizing standards and limited production capacity. He urged designers to learn from established businesses and focus on standardised measurements and production quality.
Ababio believes closing these gaps will strengthen Ghana’s manufacturing capacity, improve product quality and lay the foundation for local brands to fulfil large international orders. The summit, part of Black Star Fashion Week, was held at Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra and Royal Senchi Hotel in Akosombo and showcased Ghanaian creativity through collections and performances by Okyeame Kwame and Lamisi.
