Morgan Ayawine, general secretary of the Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU-Ghana), urged hairdressers and beauticians to transform their skills into sustainable businesses rather than just offering services. He made this call through Emmanuel Benimah, ICU’s deputy general secretary in charge of operations, during the opening of the Ghana Hairdressers and Beauticians Association (GHABA) Hair Festival on September 29 at the University of Ghana, Legon.
The festival carried the theme “Transforming the Beauty Industry Through Skills, Creativity, and Enterprise Development.” Ayawine described the theme as timely and said enterprise development was a path to economic empowerment. He encouraged practitioners to move beyond working for others and to build enterprises that generate income and provide jobs for young people.
Ayawine acknowledged starting a business requires determination, hard work, honesty, discipline, and faith. “With faith in God, sound planning and commitment—and without cutting corners or resorting to dubious means—you can gradually build a successful enterprise,” he said.
He advised hairdressers not to wait until they had large capital before starting their businesses. Instead, they could begin modestly with a small space such as a kiosk or container and basic hairdressing equipment. “You do not have to wait until you have the resources to establish a large business. Start small, start with what you have, and grow gradually,” he said.
Possible sources of start-up capital include family and friends, microfinance institutions, banks, and personal savings, Ayawine added.
The general secretary also reminded attendees of the long relationship between ICU-Ghana and GHABA, dating back to the 1970s when the association formed. ICU has supported GHABA’s development over the years, helping it grow into a strong, self-sustaining organisation.
He recalled that ICU had previously facilitated opportunities for GHABA trainers to receive international cosmetology training and exposure. These opportunities helped trainers gain new skills and knowledge that they could pass on to their trainees.
The GHABA Hair Festival offers practitioners a chance to display their craftsmanship and connect with potential clients. It also draws attention to the contribution of skills development and enterprise creation in Ghana’s informal economy, where hairdressing provides livelihoods for practitioners and apprentices across the country.
For ICU, strengthening entrepreneurship among skilled professionals could turn individual talents into sustainable businesses, income, and employment, Ayawine said. The message pressed on the importance of practical steps and perseverance rather than waiting for perfect conditions before starting a business.
According to Joy Online.
