The General Secretary of the Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU-Ghana), Morgan Ayawine, has urged members of the Ghana Hairdressers and Beauticians Association (GHABA) to transform their skills and creativity into sustainable businesses that can create wealth and employment.
Speaking at the opening session of the GHABA Hair Festival 2026, held at the University of Ghana, Legon, on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, Ayawine said enterprise development remained an important pathway to economic empowerment, particularly for skilled young people.
He encouraged GHABA members to move beyond acquiring technical skills and focus on building businesses around their expertise.
“Let the skills and creativity you have acquired evolve into viable and sustainable enterprises that will create wealth and opportunities for yourselves, your families and future generations,” he said.
The ICU-Ghana General Secretary said the beauty and hair industry offered significant opportunities for entrepreneurship, noting that practitioners did not necessarily require huge amounts of capital to start their own businesses.
According to him, aspiring entrepreneurs could begin on a modest scale by securing a small space, acquiring basic hairdressing and cosmetology equipment and, where necessary, engaging one or two apprentices.
“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,” Brother Ayawine advised.
He said with commitment, good customer service, creativity and proper management, small businesses could gradually develop into successful and thriving enterprises.
GHABA-ICU relationship
Mr Ayawine also highlighted the longstanding relationship between ICU-Ghana and GHABA, dating back to the association’s formative years in the 1970s.
He said ICU-Ghana had supported GHABA through its development, including providing opportunities for GHABA trainers to benefit from international cosmetology training and exposure.
He noted that the training and international exposure had helped trainers acquire knowledge, skills and best practices which they subsequently passed on to their trainees.
“I am delighted and proud to see graduates and members of GHABA gathered here today to display their talents, creativity and expertise in beauty and hair care,” he said.
He attributed GHABA’s growth not only to the support received from ICU-Ghana but also to the competence and commitment of the association’s leadership and the willingness of its members to apply the knowledge and skills acquired through training.
Festival theme
The 2026 GHABA Hair Festival is being held under the theme: “Transforming the Beauty Industry Through Skills, Creativity, and Enterprise Development.”
Mr Ayawine described the theme as timely and relevant, stressing that enterprise development could provide skilled professionals with an avenue to achieve economic independence while creating employment opportunities for others.
He encouraged participants to use the festival as a platform to showcase their craftsmanship, creativity and professionalism and attract potential clients.
“I believe that, right here at this Hair Festival, you have an excellent opportunity to begin building your clientele and establishing your businesses,” he said.»
He urged GHABA members to network with guests and participants at the festival, exchange contacts and encourage referrals as a way of expanding their customer base.
He also advised practitioners to maintain high professional standards to inspire confidence among potential clients and encourage repeat patronage.
Start small and grow
Addressing concerns about access to capital, Ayawine said entrepreneurs could explore legitimate sources of funding, including support from family and friends, microfinance institutions, banks and personal savings.
By Daniel Opoku
