Elsie Esinam Appau Klu, the CEO of Ezel Fashion and a fashion enthusiast, is urging the government to give the fashion and textile industries more attention because she thinks they have enormous potential to strengthen Ghana’s creative economy.
Mrs. Appau Klu emphasized in her request the necessity of lowering import duties on textiles and apparel.
She made the argument that the taxes that young fashion industry entrepreneurs currently face are impeding their ability to be creative and flourish.
She claims that although a large number of young Ghanaians are talented and knowledgeable in the creative industries, particularly fashion, significant obstacles include high tax rates and a lack of supportive policies.
Additionally, she thinks that cutting these taxes will boost business, promote patronage, and open up additional options for regional textile and apparel makers.
“I’m calling upon the government of Ghana to recognise that there are a lot of young people in this country with incredible skills. If you look at global trends, traditional employment skills are giving way to creative arts, fashion, photography and IT skills.”
“These are the fields creating employment opportunities. We should not kill the dreams of young entrepreneurs with excessive taxes. It is deterring and discouraging.”
“The fashion industry is one area that has barely received the attention it deserves. The focus seems to be mostly on music and cinema, but I believe this disparity can be bridged if the government redirects some of its focus to the fashion and textile industry, particularly regarding tax issues,” she remarked in an exclusive interview with Graphic Showbiz which was monitired by Atlfm news.
Read also:‘The New False’ unveiled as Lekzy DeComic stages comedy special on September 28
Mrs. Appau Klu questioned the logic of importing a lot of apparel from other nations when Ghana is capable of producing its own.
In addition to creating jobs, she said, promoting local fashion would improve Ghanaian culture internationally.
“Why should we be importing clothes from other countries when we can create employment opportunities right here? We should be looking at how to market our skills and products locally and internationally. It’s not just about buying and selling; it’s about creating something new and unique that people will value and be willing to pay more for,”’ she added.
She emphasized the importance of government’s role in fostering a supportive environment and challenged Ghanaians, especially the youth, to take up the challenge of building the nation by hard work, self-encouragement, and dedication.
Mrs. Appau Klu encouraged people to pursue careers in the creative industries because she saw promise for Ghana and her people.
“Africa, and Ghana in particular, has a lot of potential. Sometimes, leaders may make mistakes, but we must believe in ourselves and our ability to build a Ghana we can be proud of. The government has a responsibility, but so do we as citizens”, she advised.
