In recent years, there has been a noticeable rise in the popularity of wearing local prints, especially on Fridays and during special events such as Ghana Month in March.
This trend has been further encouraged by the Ghana Tourism Authority’s campaign, which promotes domestic tourism with the slogan, “See Ghana, Eat Ghana, Wear Ghana, and Feel Ghana.”
The campaign aims to highlight Ghanaian fashion and culture, supporting local designers and artisans through events such as fashion shows and exhibitions.
Interestingly, the movement to promote local attire dates back to Ghana’s first president, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, who initiated the Wear Ghana agenda during his time in office.
This history was uncovered in an episode of People and Places hosted by Ernestina Serwaa Asante, where Edward Quao, the Director of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum, explained the significance of Nkrumah’s fashion choices.
According to Quao, Nkrumah chose to wear the northern smock during Ghana’s independence declaration to elevate the status of this attire, which was then associated with poverty and the underprivileged.
At the historic event at the old Polo Ground, Nkrumah, alongside key figures like Kojo Botsio, Komla Agbeli Gbedemah, Archie Casely Hayford, and Krobo Edusei, wore northern smocks and hats marked with “PG,” signifying “Prison Graduate.”
Nkrumah’s choice to wear the smock, alongside the iconic kente cloth, was a symbolic gesture to encourage Ghanaians and Africans to embrace their cultural heritage with pride.
Quao emphasized that this was part of Nkrumah’s broader vision for a distinct African identity, where every aspect of life, from clothing to food, reflected the essence of being Ghanaian and African.
By consciously promoting local attire, Nkrumah helped elevate the perception of traditional garments like the smock, contributing to their wider acceptance and appreciation in society.
Source: Ghanaweb.