In a refreshing call to cultural arms, Kasim Mireku, the Acting Regional Director of the Centre for National Culture (CNC) in the Western Region, is challenging Ghanaians to flip the script on fashion.
During a recent interview on the Mid-Morning Radio Show on Y97.9FM Takoradi with host Marv On Air, Mireku argued that the current hierarchy of dress in Ghana needs a radical overhaul. He suggested that instead of reserving “Traditional Wear” for specific days, indigenous Ghanaian fashion should be our default identity.
Mireku’s proposition builds on a foundation laid by previous leadership to mainstream local textiles. A significant milestone in this journey was the introduction of “Fugu Wednesday” by President John Dramani Mahama and Friday wear by previous governments
By consistently wearing the smock (Fugu) on Wednesdays and at high-profile international events, Mahama didn’t just make a fashion statement; he signaled a shift in the national psyche. It was an intentional move to boost the livelihoods of weavers in the Upper East, Upper West, and Northern Regions and also introduce the traditional attire of the North into the mainstream corporate and political spaces of the South.
However, Mireku believes it is time to move beyond these “designated days” toward a total embrace of our identity. He argues that we should wear our own designs every day, while perhaps “charitably” setting aside just one day a week for foreign attire, such as the Western suit.
“Every day should be for Ghana fashion, and we should rather charitably pick just a day for other cultures’ fashion like the suit.”
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