Ghana’s creative and beauty industries are set for renewed policy and investment attention following a firm commitment by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, to position the sector as a strategic pillar of the country’s economic transformation.
Speaking at the ninth Ghana Beauty Awards (GBA) in Accra, Madam Gomashie said the creative and tourism sectors were not just cultural assets but powerful drivers of job creation, export growth, and national branding.
“The creative and tourism sectors remain vital engines for national renewal and progress,” she stated, adding that the government viewed the industry as a growth frontier capable of contributing billions of cedis to the economy through innovation, fashion, and lifestyle entrepreneurship.
The minister highlighted the global beauty industry’s $700 billion value, stressing Ghana’s potential to tap into that market through the development of homegrown brands and creative exports.
She urged beauty entrepreneurs, stylists, and innovators to focus on building sustainable and globally competitive brands that reflect Ghana’s identity and craftsmanship.
“The theme ‘Thrive’ is a timely reminder that resilience, ethics, and excellence will define the next chapter of our creative and beauty economy,” Madam Gomashie said.
She reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to the ‘Black Star Experience’ strategy, which seeks to position Ghana as Africa’s leading lifestyle and cultural destination.
The initiative, she explained, is part of a broader effort to expand Ghana’s creative economy’s GDP contribution, while creating more opportunities for youth-led startups and export-oriented fashion and beauty brands.
Industry stakeholders estimate that Ghana’s beauty and creative economy currently employs hundreds of thousands of young people, directly or indirectly supporting micro and small enterprises in makeup artistry, skincare, fashion, haircare, and event production.
With proper investment and export promotion, experts say the sector could generate over $500 million annually through regional trade, digital content creation, and tourism-linked spending.
Mr. George Opare Addo, Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, also underscored the industry’s economic importance, calling for public-private partnerships to close the gap between talent and access to finance.
“Creative businesses, especially in the beauty and fashion space are becoming engines of youth employment,” he said. “With targeted policy support, these enterprises can move from informal setups to structured export-ready industries that strengthen Ghana’s non-traditional exports.”
The 2025 Ghana Beauty Awards celebrated excellence across makeup, skincare, hair, fashion, education, and innovation categories, reinforcing the sector’s growing professional credibility.
Winners received prizes including an all-expense-paid trip to Barbados and an invitation to attend the 2026 GRAMMY Awards, signaling the growing international recognition of Ghana’s creative talent.
For many industry players, the Minister’s reaffirmation of support offers a confidence boost at a time when creative professionals are seeking access to finance, intellectual property protection, and export linkages.
Observers say that a more structured policy framework linked to tourism promotion, training, and investment incentivescould make the creative and beauty sectors key contributors to Ghana’s post-COVID economic recovery.
With the Ministry’s renewed backing, Ghana’s creative entrepreneurs see a pathway toward transforming beauty, culture, and design into profitable, sustainable, and export-driven venturesanchored in local identity but globally competitive.
