Fashion must go with taste- Mrs Asmah

Sekondi (W/R), Sept.12, GNA- Tailors and dressmakers have been advised not to allow dynamism in fashion, which is a reflection of the society in which it manifests itself, to corrupt the country's moral fabric.

Fashion, therefore, must be made to suit the taste of the people. Mrs Gladys Asmah, Minister for Women and Children's Affairs said, her Ministry had been worried about the abandoning of beautiful and decent local designs for indecent ones by younger generation, all in the name of fashion.

The Minister was addressing the first regional conference of the Western Region branch of the Ghana National Tailors and Dressmakers Association (GNTDA) at Sekondi on Saturday.

It had the theme: "Maintaining our cultural heritage - the role of Tailors and Dressmakers".

Mrs Asmah told members of GNTDA that they had always played crucial roles in the shaping of the basic moral structure of society and it was time for them to listen and reflect on the moral concerns of the people. "In the name of fashion and foreign taste, some of them end up exposing their bodies to the public to the embarrassment of womanhood".

She said it is sad that these modes of dressing tended to make "useless" an ideal Ghanaian woman, sometimes with the approval of some mothers with the excuse that it was the vogue in town.

Mrs Asmah said government was implementing far-reaching policies to make the private sector the engine of growth.

She advised members of the association to take advantage of the President's Special Initiative (PSI) on Garment by forming cooperatives and source for funding to expand their businesses.

Under the Women Development Fund, established to enhance poverty reduction particularly among women, 100 billion cedis had been disbursed to 150,000 women countrywide.

Mrs Asmah said her ministry is planning to support 50 women in each of the 138 districts to embark on small to medium scale agro-processing ventures and stated that women in dressmaking would be included in the programme.

Awulae Annor Adjaye III, Omanhene of Western Nzema Traditional Area, said it is more rewarding to be self-employed.

He therefore, urged members of GNTDA to venture into the private sectors, and said there were many opportunities under the government's private sector development programme to improve their finances and expand their businesses.

Mr Samuel Adu Sarfo, National President of the Association said members would soon build a resource centre at Sekondi to enhance the operation of the Association.

He advised members to avoid promiscuous lifestyles and become role models for the youth.

Papa Owusu Ankomah, Attorney General and Minister of Justice who is also the Member of Parliament for Sekondi said the success of the PSI on Garment would depend largely on the cooperation and support of GNTDA members.

He pledged the government's determination to support the growth of the private sector to sustain economic development of the country. Madam Elisabeth Buryan, Western Regional chairperson of the Association said the association would soon open zonal offices throughout the region to enhance its activities.