The Country Representative of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Dr. Wilfred Ochan, has made an appeal to the public to patronise locally produced products to boost the economy.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Fashion Expressions Project, Dr. Wilfred Ochan indicated that patronising clothes designed and made by Ghanaians will go a long way to support small and medium enterprises in the fashion industry.

“In this meeting we brought a vast group of stakeholders to draw attention to these new entrants in the fashion industry. Our intention is to increase local patronage of clothes designed and made by Ghanaians. I would suggest that institutions that wear uniforms contact small and medium businesses like these people to help grow their businesses,” he said.

International Needs Ghana in partnership with UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, and the PRADA Group, a reputable player in the fashion industry implemented the Fashion Expressions Project. International Needs Ghana organized a fashion Show to climax the one-year intensive training in Fashion for 18 Young women.

Executive Director of International Needs Ghana, Cromwell Awadey is optimistic the beneficiaries would make good livelihood with their skills.

“I believe the lives of these ladies have been transformed with the intensive training we gave them. Trainees of the Project spent first six months acquiring theoretical knowledge in Fashion and some minor elements of practicals. The second part of the training is industrial attachment with eight local Fashion Houses. The Fashion Show climaxes their industrial attachment,” he stated.

The project is a unique Fashion Training Programme that seeks to advance and mentor aspiring fashion professionals as well as equip them with the necessary tools. Some beneficiaries shared their excitement and expressed gratitude.

One of the beneficiaries, Ruby Buah said “being part of such an initiative to make women employable is great. I am happy to be a part of it and do my bit in making sure that we have quite a percentage of women who can have a business of theirs, employ people and go ahead to train others”.

Another beneficiary, Pamela Afatsawo said “I am very excited because it has given me the opportunity to become the fashion designer I have always dreamed of”.

The Fashion Expressions Project which is being piloted in Ghana and Kenya, aims to leverage the socio-economic power of fashion as a vehicle to promote women’s empowerment.