Spearheaded by the Black Star Experience Secretariat, the maiden Black Star Fashion Week’s Presidential Runway marked an important moment for Ghanaian fashion, bringing established designers, emerging talent and industry pioneers together under the theme “PUT GHANA ON.” Held at the Royal Senchi Hotel in Akosombo on November 7, 2026, the showcase brought together established designers, emerging creatives, industry stakeholders and fashion enthusiasts for an evening celebrating the richness and potential of Ghana’s fashion industry.

More than a showcase of beautiful garments, the Presidential Runway offered a compelling statement about the importance of Ghanaian creativity and the need to give local designers greater visibility. Through fashion, the event presented an opportunity to tell Ghana’s story through its textiles, craftsmanship, cultural influences and evolving design language.

The runway featured collections from some of Ghana’s notable fashion names, including Abrantie the Gentleman, Boyedoe, Kenneth Tetteh, Chocolate, Atto Tetteh, Quophi Akotuah, Neesa Atelier, BloombyEdzi and Adjeponmaa, alongside emerging designers from the 16-Region Designer Programme. This coming together of established labels and new creative voices reflected the event’s ambition to create a platform that connects different generations of Ghanaian fashion talent.

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The showcase was designed to reinforce Ghana’s ambition to become a leading destination for fashion and creative enterprise. The diversity of designers on the runway also offered a glimpse into the breadth of talent shaping the country’s contemporary fashion landscape.

A pivotal highlight of the Presidential Runway was the formal recognition of iconic trailblazers whose foundations laid the groundwork for today’s luxury boom. Seven industry legends were honored for their transformative contributions:

  • Kofi Ansah (Posthumous): Celebrating his legacy as a pioneer of African couture who brought Ghanaian tailoring to international acclaim.
  • Ricci Ossei / Saint Ossei (Posthumous): Recognized for bridging art, music, and fashion—shaping the aesthetic landscape that influenced generations.
  • Chez Julie / Kweifio-Okai (Posthumous): Honored for pioneering high fashion and integrating traditional sensibilities into modern silhouettes since the 1960s.
  • Joyce Ababio: Awarded for her groundbreaking integration of Kente into contemporary formal wear and her foundational work in fashion education through the JACCD Design Institute Africa.
  • Mawuli Kofi Okudzeto: Celebrated for shaping youth culture, hiplife aesthetics, and streetwear via the iconic MAWULI and MKO.GH labels.
  • Adzedu of Shapes (Grace Wallace & Adzedu): Commended for elevating menswear and traditional Ghanaian textiles on global stages.
  • Nora Bannerman-Abbott: 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.
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The evening was further enriched by musical performances from Okyeame Kwame and Lamisi, highlighting the natural relationship between fashion, music and Ghanaian cultural expression. The appearance of Reggie Rockstone in a design by his late father, Ricci Osei, also offered a touching reminder of the enduring influence of Ghanaian creative legacies.

While the visual spectacle captivated attendees, the broader commentary emerging from the Black Star Fashion Summit in Accra through to Akosombo focused heavily on industrialization. Industry leaders reiterated that for Ghanaian luxury labels to scale globally, localized textile manufacturing, expanded trade routes, strong media representation, and dedicated buyer pipelines are urgent imperatives.

The inaugural Presidential Runway demonstrated that Ghana is ready to move beyond regional fashion weeks. By unifying heritage, policy support, and high-fashion craftsmanship, the event set an ambitious blueprint for the future of West African luxury.