Ghana is set to take the spotlight in fashion, culture and the creative economy as the maiden Black Star Fashion Week (BSFW) prepares to bring together designers, creatives, investors, industry players and fashion enthusiasts for a two-day national fashion experience.

The initiative is aimed at discovering emerging talent, creating opportunities for players in the fashion industry and showcasing Ghanaian creativity to audiences beyond the country.

The event is being organised under the Presidency-backed Black Star Experience Secretariat, led by the  Presidential Staffer for the Black Star Experience, Rex Omar, playing a key role in the initiative.

The programme is being supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts and its agencies, including the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the Creative Arts Agency.

Black Star Fashion Week will unfold through two connected experiences in Accra and Senchi, moving from industry discussions and talent discovery to a major fashion and cultural celebration.

The first day of the programme is scheduled for November 4 in Accra, where the Black Star Fashion Summit will take centre stage.

The summit will provide a platform for designers, fashion entrepreneurs, creatives, industry leaders, investors, buyers, manufacturers, policymakers, media practitioners and other stakeholders to engage in discussions about the future of Ghana’s fashion industry.

The programme will feature keynote addresses, panel discussions, fireside conversations, masterclasses, industry presentations and practical workshops.

Key areas to be explored include entrepreneurship, branding, digital marketing, textile innovation, manufacturing, fashion finance, export readiness, e-commerce, artificial intelligence, sustainability and intellectual property.

The summit is expected to provide participants with opportunities to exchange ideas, develop new skills, build industry connections and explore avenues for expanding Ghanaian fashion locally and internationally.

A major highlight of the Accra programme will be the 16-Region Designer Programme, which will bring emerging fashion talents from across Ghana onto one national platform.

Each participating designer will be required to develop a creative fashion interpretation inspired by their respective region.

Their presentations will draw on the identity, culture, heritage, local materials, craftsmanship and contemporary design language of the regions they represent.

At the end of the Accra programme, five designers will be selected from the participants.

One of the five finalists will then progress to the flagship fashion show at Senchi, allowing the selected designer to present on the major Black Star Fashion Week platform.

The second day of the programme will take place at Royal Senchi on November 7, where the Black Star Fashion Show and Experience will be held.

The Senchi programme will extend beyond the traditional runway, with a Fashion Village forming part of the overall experience.

The Fashion Village will feature designer showcases, retail, textiles, artisan experiences, brand activations, beauty, technology, food and beverage, tourism and lifestyle experiences.

The event will also showcase the relationship between fashion and Ghana’s broader cultural identity.

Visitors will experience elements of Ghanaian music, dance, textiles, craft, food, storytelling, heritage and visual arts, creating a wider celebration of the country’s creative and cultural heritage.

Black Star Fashion Week will also recognise outstanding contributors to Ghana’s fashion ecosystem.

The event will provide opportunities for designers and creative businesses to connect with buyers, investors, manufacturers, retailers and other industry stakeholders through networking and business engagements.

The organisers are positioning the initiative not only as a fashion showcase but also as a platform for talent development, industry collaboration and commercial opportunities.

The Black Star Experience (BSE) is a Government of Ghana initiative focused on culture, arts, tourism and creative engagement.

As a national, year-round platform, it brings together Ghana’s cultural, artistic, tourism and creative offerings with the broader objective of strengthening Ghana’s identity and promoting the country as a preferred global destination.

The initiative also seeks to position Ghana as a leading cultural and creative capital of Africa.

Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has called for improved maintenance, consistent interpretation of historical narratives and sustained investment in tourist attractions to enhance visitor experiences and encourage repeat visits.

She made the call during a tour of selected tourist attractions in the Eastern Region after participating in the 2026 Eastern Regional Tourism Expo, held in Koforidua as part of activities marking World Tourism Day.

The Minister visited the Aburi Botanical Gardens, Aburi Craft Village and Papaye Gardens, where she interacted with facility managers, received briefings on their operations and assessed opportunities for improving the attractions.

At the Aburi Botanical Gardens, she was taken through the site’s rich history, including its historical association with the Biafran War and trees planted by prominent world leaders who had visited the facility.

She also received updates on the condition of the trees and the general state of the gardens before planting a tree herself to underscore the importance of environmental conservation and the preservation of Ghana’s natural heritage.

Gomashie stressed that regular maintenance of the gardens must be treated as a priority, noting that the site’s historical significance and natural beauty could only be preserved through deliberate and sustained care.

She also raised concerns about inconsistencies in the way the history of tourist sites is communicated to visitors.

According to her, tour guides must provide accurate, consistent and coherent accounts of historical events to protect the credibility of attractions.

She explained that conflicting versions of the same historical narrative could confuse visitors and gradually reduce their interest in returning to the sites.

“When visitors receive different accounts of the same historical events during successive visits, they may become uncertain about what to believe,” she noted, stressing the need for a more coordinated approach to historical interpretation.

Although the Aburi Botanical Gardens do not fall directly under the management of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Gomashie said tourism development requires collaboration among institutions responsible for attractions and those providing the infrastructure needed to support them.

She noted that the Ghana Tourism Authority plays a regulatory and supervisory role in the tourism sector, including permits and oversight, but stressed that the development of tourist destinations also depends on cooperation with other ministries and government agencies.

The Minister particularly highlighted the role of the Ministry of Roads and Highways in improving access to tourist attractions.

She disclosed that concerns over poor road access to tourist destinations had been brought to the attention of President John Dramani Mahama, who had tasked the Roads and Highways Minister with prioritising roads leading to key tourism sites.

According to her, a list of roads requiring urgent attention had already been submitted, while the second phase of the government’s Big Push infrastructure programme is expected to focus on improving access to tourist destinations.

Gomashie further stressed the need for tourism facilities to continuously evolve in order to remain attractive to visitors.

She said introducing new features while upgrading existing facilities would provide tourists with fresh experiences and give them more reasons to return.

Her visits to the Aburi Craft Village and Papaye Gardens also offered an opportunity to assess the diversity of tourism products in the Eastern Region and the potential of local attractions to support employment, enterprise development and economic activity.

The Minister was accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Maame Efua Houadjeto; Executive Director of the Ghana Tourism Development Company, Professor Kobby Mensah; Executive Director of the Hotel, Catering and Tourism Training Institute, Dr Eric Afornorfe; Director of the Folklore Board, Mr Adjavon; Director of Tourism, Dr Tamakloe; Director of Culture and Creative Arts, Divine Owusu Ansah; and other officials of the Ministry.

Source: Graphics Online

Ghanaian Kumawood actor Kwadwo Nkansah, popularly known as LilWin, has welcomed a group of Nigerian movie stars who have arrived in Ghana to join the cast of his upcoming movie, A Journey to Africa (Nzulezu).

The Nigerian stars, including Kanayo O. Kanayo, Patience Ozokwor, Mike Ezuruonye, Zubby Michael and Destiny Etiko, touched down at the Accra International Airport on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.

The stars touched down at the Accra International Airport on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, where they were welcomed by Lil Win.

A video shared on social media showed the Ghanaian actor at the airport as he received the Nigerian stars ahead of the movie production.

The project brings together some of Nigeria’s well-known film personalities and Ghanaian talents for the international movie.

Among the Nigerian stars joining the cast are veteran actor Kanayo O. Kanayo, veteran actress Patience Ozokwor, actor Mike Ezuruonye, actor Zubby Michael and actress Destiny Etiko, alongside other Nigerian actors and actresses.

A Journey to Africa (Nzulezu) is Lil Win’s second international movie project and is set to feature the Nigerian stars alongside Ghanaian actors.

Ghanaian socialite and media personality Efia Odo has questioned the rollout of the Ghana Police Service’s automated traffic enforcement system, TRAFFITECH-GH, arguing that authorities should fix faulty traffic lights before introducing more cameras on the roads.

Efia Odo shared her concerns on X on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, in reaction to the ongoing introduction of the technology-based traffic enforcement system.

While she acknowledged that the use of cameras to enforce traffic regulations could be a good idea, she questioned whether the country’s existing road infrastructure was ready for the system.

“Traffic lights don’t even work, but somehow y’all have a budget to install cameras? Great idea, but how ’bout we get the lights to work first!!” she wrote.

Her post was made as the Ghana Police Service prepared for the full implementation of TRAFFITECH-GH, an initiative designed to use technology to detect traffic violations and strengthen enforcement of road traffic regulations.

The system is being implemented through the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) and is intended to address indiscipline on Ghana’s roads, improve compliance with traffic laws and contribute to road safety.

The Police Service had initially scheduled the full rollout for October 1, 2026, but the date has now been moved to November 1, 2026.

The Police explained that the additional month would be used for more extensive public education and awareness about how TRAFFITECH-GH operates, the offences the system will detect and how motorists will receive Electronic Notices of Violation (ENV) when they commit offences.

The postponement means drivers, vehicle owners and other road users have additional time to familiarise themselves with the new enforcement system before full implementation.

Efia Odo’s criticism, however, has drawn attention to another issue surrounding the rollout — whether motorists should be held responsible for violations when traffic infrastructure at some locations may not be clearly visible or functional.

Her concerns come amid similar calls from CUTS International Accra, which has urged the government to fix faulty traffic lights, faded road markings and inadequate speed-limit signs before automated enforcement begins.

CUTS argued that although technology could improve compliance and reduce road crashes, enforcement must be based on road infrastructure that is clear and visible to motorists.

The organisation specifically raised concerns about some traffic lights being obscured by vegetation, damaged, displaced or out of service.

It also cited situations where only one of two signal heads at a junction may be functioning, while faded lane markings and stop lines could create uncertainty for drivers.

CUTS identified locations including parts of the Nsawam-Accra Road near the Apenkwa-Achimota overhead bridge and the Police Training Academy junction at Tesano as areas requiring attention.

The group argued that a camera may have a clear view of a vehicle while the driver may not necessarily have a clear view of the traffic signal.

“A camera’s clear view of a vehicle does not mean the driver has a clear view of the relevant signal or sign,” CUTS said.

CUTS has therefore called for enforcement locations to be inspected from the perspective of approaching drivers before automated fines are activated.

It wants authorities to check traffic signals, road signs, lane markings and stop lines during different conditions, including daytime, nighttime and rainy weather.

The organisation also called for displaced traffic lights to be realigned, faulty signal heads restored, overgrown vegetation trimmed and faded road markings repainted.

On speeding enforcement, CUTS said motorists should have clear information about applicable speed limits and urged authorities to install visible speed-limit signs before speed cameras and at locations where speed limits change.

The wider debate comes as Ghana seeks to use technology to strengthen traffic enforcement and reduce road indiscipline.

For Efia Odo, however, the introduction of cameras should go hand in hand with improvements to the physical road infrastructure that motorists rely on every day.