Black Star Fashion Week: Presidential Runway celebrates Ghanaian fashion, creativity and heritage at Royal Senchi

The maiden Black Star Fashion Week has celebrated Ghanaian fashion, creativity and heritage, bringing together leading designers and industry figures at the Presidential Runway in Akosombo.

Held on Saturday, 7 November, at the Royal Senchi Hotel, the event brought together some of Ghana’s leading fashion designers, creative industry personalities, musicians and fashion enthusiasts for an evening celebrating Ghanaian design, craftsmanship and cultural heritage.

The runway featured collections from notable designers, including Abrantie the Gentleman, Boyedoe, Kenneth Tetteh, Chocolate, Atto Tetteh, Quofi Akotuah, Nessa Atelier, BloombyEdzi and Adjeponmaa, alongside emerging talents from the 16-Region Designer Programme.

The event also recognised seven Ghanaian fashion icons and industry pioneers whose creativity, entrepreneurship and influence have helped shape the country’s fashion identity.

The recognition celebrated both living and departed personalities, acknowledging their contributions to the promotion of indigenous textiles, African couture, contemporary design, fashion education and the development of Ghana’s garment industry.

Among the honourees was Madam Joyce Ababio, recognised for integrating Kente into everyday clothing and for her outstanding contribution to fashion education. In 1995, she became the first Ghanaian designer to win Best Formal Evening Wear at Miss World. She has also dressed successive First Ladies since 1992 and founded the JACCD Design Institute Africa.

Kofi Ansah (Posthumous) was celebrated as a pioneer of African couture whose exceptional designs helped take Ghanaian fashion onto the international stage, establishing a lasting legacy for African creativity and craftsmanship.

The late Juliana Miranda Norley Kweifio-Okai (Posthumous) was honoured for founding Chez Julie in 1960 and pioneering a distinctive blend of African dress and international influences. Her entrepreneurial journey also opened doors for women in business.

Ricci Osei (Posthumous) was remembered for his St Ossei and BRASS labels and his innovative approach to connecting fashion with art, music and culture, helping to expand the creative possibilities of Ghanaian fashion.

Mawuli Kofi Okudzeto was recognised for establishing the Mawuli Kofi Okudzeto, MAWULI and MKO.GH labels. His influence on hiplife fashion and Ghanaian streetwear helped shape a distinctive visual identity for a generation of young people.

Nora Bannerman-Abbott was celebrated for her entrepreneurial leadership of Sleek Garments Export Limited and her contribution to the growth of Ghana’s garment industry, particularly in entrepreneurship, manufacturing and export development.

Completing the list was Tetteh Adzedu, founder of Adzedu of Shapes, whose work brought African menswear and traditional textiles into contemporary design. His international recognition includes the 1998 Principal Prince Claus Award and his selection for a UNESCO event in Paris.

Welcoming guests, Coordinator of the Black Star Experience, Rex Owusu Marfo (Rex Omar), challenged Ghanaian designers to continually improve their craft, invest in professional development and approach fashion as a serious commercial enterprise.

He emphasised the need for designers to look beyond the creative aspects of their work and pay greater attention to the business side of the industry, including brand development, quality, production, marketing and commercial sustainability.

He noted that Ghanaian fashion has enormous potential but requires deliberate efforts by practitioners to build competitive businesses capable of succeeding both locally and internationally.

Delivering the keynote address, celebrated broadcaster Kwasi Kyei Darkwah (KKD) called for stronger support for Ghanaian designers and a more structured approach to developing the fashion industry.

He advocated specialisation, higher professional standards and greater investment across the fashion value chain, stressing that the industry’s growth would depend on practitioners developing expertise, delivering quality and operating within internationally competitive standards.

KKD also underscored the importance of recognising fashion as an economic sector capable of generating employment, stimulating tourism and creating opportunities across manufacturing, textiles, retail and related industries.

The evening also brought together fashion and music, with celebrated Ghanaian musicians Okyeame Kwame and Lamisi delivering performances that added an entertainment dimension to the runway experience.

Their performances complemented the fashion presentations, creating an atmosphere that celebrated the relationship between Ghanaian music, fashion, culture and contemporary creative expression.

The tribute segment served as a reminder that Ghana’s fashion industry has been built through decades of innovation, courage, entrepreneurship and cultural expression. It also reinforced the importance of documenting and celebrating the contributions of those whose work continues to inspire the next generation of designers.

The Presidential Runway represented the culmination of the maiden Black Star Fashion Week, which began with the Black Star Fashion Summit in Accra on 4 November.

Held under the broader PUT GHANA ON campaign, the initiative seeks to strengthen Ghana’s fashion ecosystem, promote local designers, encourage investment and create greater international visibility for Ghanaian fashion.

Beyond the runway presentations, the event reinforced the need for Ghanaian fashion to evolve into a stronger, more structured and commercially sustainable industry, supported by professional excellence, investment and a renewed appreciation of the country’s creative heritage.

Through the Black Star Experience, Ghana continues to explore opportunities to connect fashion, culture, tourism and economic development while showcasing the country’s creative capabilities to the world.