Ghanaians were on Thursday urged to produce magazines and books on beauty and fashion as a way of promoting their culture to the sub-region and the rest of the world.
Mr Boniface Abubacar Saddique, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, who made the call in a speech read on his behalf at launch of "Style Afrique 2001" in Accra said magazines and books that are sold on the market are of foreign origin "to the detriment of our society."
Style Afrique 2001 is a contest/fair aimed at bringing together professionals in the beauty and fashion industry.
Mr Saddique said good books about fashion promote trade and commerce among countries.
This aspect of trade, he said, was missing in the sub-region adding that those that one could easily find were mostly of French origin, hence the need to bridge the gap.
"Besides the handicap of language barrier, such books and magazines that find their way into this side of Africa are those that promote African-American and European culture rather than our own," Mr Saddique said.
Mr Kenneth Kumahlor, Event Director, said the fair/contest has been divided into two categories - the Northern and Southern zones.
The North would hold its fair/contest on October 27 while that of the South would be held on November 20.
The grand finale would be a two-day event scheduled for December 16 and 17 at the National Theatre where "Miss and Mr Style Afrique 2001" would be crowned.
Those expected to participate in the events are hairstylists, barbers, fashion designers, beauticians, beauty care product manufacturers, jewellery designers and handicrafts manufacturers.
