Professor George Osei-Adjei, Dean Faculty of Applied Arts, Accra Technical University, has encouraged Ghanaians to patronise African designs to enhance local innovations and creativity across the globe.
That, he explained, would create job opportunities for the youth and enhance economic development.
The Professor said this during a fashion show exhibition for final-year students from the Fashion Design and Textile Department of the University.
The event was on the theme: “Promoting African Heritage: Our Pride, Our Passion”.
The exhibition showcased students work, including designs, crochet, batik, tie-dye, and footwear, alongside pieces from the School of Ordinance of the Ghana Armed Forces, affiliated with the university.
“We want to go back to our roots. We are promoting the African heritage. We want to show our pride and our passion in African culture,” he said.

Prof Osei-Adjei said even though the taste for ‘already made clothes’ that were imported abroad was high, there was the need for Ghanaians to appreciate and buy local designs to boost the economy.
He said the University had positioned itself to train students in fashion designs and textiles, particularly in the context of competence-based learning, to be relevant in the world of work.
“People initially lost interest because they were not finding designers who can sew to their taste.
“We have taken it up to train them specifically with precision so that any artefact or design that you dream of, they can put it together and give you an outfit that will be fit for the purpose.”
He said the fashion show had combined tradition with modernity, stressing, “We are incorporating what the new generation has come to identify with and what the older generations were used to.”
That, he stressed, would help us to have a perfect blend of the two so that our tradition will not be lost.
“We want to maintain all our traditions with respect to our clothing and then our signs and symbols,” he said.
Some of the students expressed excitement about their designs and were optimistic about entering into the market to showcase their distinctive creativity.