Information Minister launches ‘Wear Ghana Month’

The Minister for Information, Honourable Mustapha Hamid has launched the Wear Ghana Month Project in Accra at the National Theatre of Ghana on the 9th March, 2018 under the theme: Wear Ghana to Promote the Fashion industry in Ghana”.

Speaking at the launch, he commended the National Commission on Culture, Street Fashion Train and the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation for collaborating to put up this campaign which is geared towards promoting Ghana’s clothe culture and heritage.

“The decision to embark on the Wear Ghana Month Project is indeed laudable since the development of Ghana’s economy is linked to our culture and the creative industry. Therefore, adapting local brands and patronizing made in Ghana clothes, shoes, bags and other fashion accessories which are locally produced as well as Ghanaian dishes, films, music, theatre and literary works play a vital role in expanding our economy and also making an impact on national development” Hon. Mustapha Hamid said at the ceremony last Friday.

The Wear Ghana Month Concept

Before the manifestation of this project, Street Fashion Train, an event planning organization has consistently been organizing fashion related programs to promote the fashion industry and Ghanaian culture among the youth. Late last year, after the Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture launched the See Ghana, feel Ghana, Eat Ghana and Wear Ghana campaign, Street Fashion Train saw that there was the need to take the Wear component and dedicate in to the fashion industry players in Ghana. This is because although the fashion industry plays a vital role in our development; it has been relegated to the background. Therefore, there was the need to set the month of March apart to promote the fashion industry and the local textile industry hence the Wear Ghana Month project.

The Month of March is also set aside tohonour and celebrate outstanding performance in the Ghanaian Fashion Industry and give lifetime achievements awards to industry players who have contributed to the growth of the industry. This is also to recognize, nurture and support and promote regional fashion talent annually to the global market through raising awareness and importance of adaptation of local brands and highlighting Ghana as the next fashion destination.

In line with the above, Street Fashion Train partnered the National Commission on Culture to organize the Wear Ghana Month since they have a mandate to manage the cultural life of Ghanaians. The collaboration with Ghana Broad Casting Corporation is necessary because they also launched the Heritage Month in March to promote our heritage and culture hence the collaboration. It is supported by National Theatre.

Working together

Honorable Mustapha Hamid added that, “Ghanaians must join in this campaign for us to achieve social change and national transformation and that, failure to patronize what we produce locally would lead to a break down in the economy at a point in time which he noted can have disastrous consequences on Ghanaians. He entreated all Ghanaians to support this campaign so that in the subsequent years we shall celebrate ‘Wear Ghana year ‘he advised.

Mr Benjamin KojoMills,C.E.O Street Fashion Train used the opportunity to plead with Ghanaians to join in this campaign. “Fashion is a huge business; from clothing, make-up, hairstyle, footwear, accessories and body. If harnessed; has a huge economic potential which would not be an asset to only the Ghanaian economy but Africa too; as it will develop businesses and create jobs for our growing working force in Ghana and beyond” he explained.

He further added that, it is important to look at the fashion industry through a value chain approach to evaluate the contribution that” a made in Ghana product” can contribute to the Ghanaian economy. The fashion industry has the potential of diversifying the economic base of our country and boost tourism. Since this project is for the betterment of Ghana, we call on corporate organizations and philanthropist to support us in cash and kind.

The Director for Creative Arts, Programs and Projects, Mr. SocrateSafo also emphasized that the Wear Ghana Campaign is a project if supported, will impact greatly on our economy. Our key objective for this program is to see that the working class in Ghana will patronize made in Ghana clothes from the Parliamentarians, the Judicial Service, Civil and Public Servants, teachers, students, and the working class in the private sector will use the local textile to sew beautiful corporate designs to the office.

Therefore, I implore all Ghanaians to support us by embracing this initiative.

Ambassadors for the Wear Ghana Project were out doored during the ceremony. Hon. Della Sowah, Member of Parliament for Pando as the female Ambassador and Hon. AtoPanford MP Shama -West male Ambassador for Wear Month. They wear tasked to promote our culture and heritage especially our clothes made from the local textile. among Ghanaians and on the globe.

PROGRAMME LINE UP FOR THE WEAR GHANA MONTH PROGRAMME

The itinerary for the program includes:

A Seminar on the14th March,2018

A fashion show, exhibitions of made in Ghana clothes, fashion accessories and a food Bazaar at the Nkrumah Water Gardens a.k.a (Obra Spot) on the 23rd-24th March, 2018.

The climax will be an awards night at the La-Palm Royal Beach Hotel on 25th March, 2018 to reward and honour fashion industry players nationwide who have contributed to the growth of the industry in Ghana.

Wear Ghana Challenge –this runs throughout the year. where the general public are expected to take pictures of themselves in their unique made in Ghana clothes and (#) hashtag us on all our social media pages (facebook, Instagram and tweeter -@wearghanamonth) with the name of the designer or beautician to qualify for a special treat.