STORY BY: IRENE KABUKIE QUAO— The initiative seeks to promote local designers, celebrate Ghanaian culture, and create opportunities for growth in the creative economy.

Ghana’s fashion industry is set to take centre stage as the Black Star Experience prepares to host its maiden Black Star Fashion Week on November 4 and 7, 2026, bringing together designers, entrepreneurs and creatives to showcase local talent and explore opportunities within the fashion industry.

The initiative forms part of the broader Black Star Experience, a national programme aimed at promoting Ghana’s culture, arts, tourism and creative industries while positioning the country as a leading cultural destination in Africa.

Speaking on Max TV’s morning show, Rex Owusu Marfo, Presidential Staffer and Coordinator of the Black Star Experience, said the initiative is built around seven pillars: storytelling and film, music, cuisine, aesthetics, heritage and culture, literature and fashion.

He explained that the expansion of the initiative would help showcase Ghana’s diverse cultural identity, creativity and heritage, while positioning the country as a leading cultural destination on the African continent.

According to him, the seven pillars are designed to promote Ghana to the world, redefine the identity of Ghanaians and highlight the unique qualities that distinguish the country from others.

Mr Owusu Marfo stressed that the Black Star Experience should not be viewed as a one-off event but as a year-round initiative that reflects Ghanaian culture and becomes part of the everyday lives of its people.

“The Black Star Experience is not an event; it is a 365-day way of life,” he emphasised.

The first phase, the Black Star Fashion Summit, will take place on November 4 at the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra under the theme “Put Ghana On”. The summit will focus on fashion entrepreneurship, branding, textile innovation, financing, manufacturing and export readiness, providing a platform for industry players to exchange ideas and build partnerships.

A key feature will be the 16-Region Designer Programme, which will showcase emerging designers inspired by their regions’ culture, heritage and craftsmanship. Five designers will be selected, with one earning the opportunity to showcase at the flagship fashion event in Akosombo.

Edward Owusu, Programme Lead for the initiative, said the Black Star Experience seeks to identify existing gaps within Ghana’s creative arts industry and develop strategies to address them while creating opportunities for growth and development across the sector.

The second phase, the Black Star Fashion Show, will take place on November 7 at Royal Senchi in Akosombo. It will feature runway presentations and a Fashion Village showcasing designer collections, textiles, crafts, beauty, technology, food and tourism experiences, alongside music, dance and cultural storytelling.

Beyond the runway, the “Put Ghana On” campaign seeks to encourage patronage of locally made clothing and accessories while creating opportunities for designers, textile producers, tailors, models, stylists and other professionals across the fashion value chain.

The maiden Black Star Fashion Week is expected to bring creativity, commerce and cultural identity together, with its long-term success depending on its ability to translate exposure and networking into sustainable business opportunities for Ghanaian designers.

The initiative forms part of a broader effort to celebrate local talent, strengthen the creative economy, and project Ghanaian culture to the world.