GHABA pushes skills, enterprise development to unlock beauty industry jobs

The Ghana Hairdressers and Beauticians Association (GHABA) has called for increased investment in skills and enterprise development to unlock the beauty industry’s potential to create jobs and support sustainable livelihoods.

The Association said the sector has significant opportunities, particularly for women and young people, but practitioners must move beyond basic service provision and develop professionally managed businesses capable of expanding and creating employment.

The call was made at the maiden national edition of the GHABA Hair and Beauty Festival, held on September 29, 2026, under the theme, “Transforming the beauty industry through skills, creativity and enterprise development.”

GHABA said the beauty industry has grown into an important economic activity, with opportunities extending beyond hairdressing and beautification to areas such as entrepreneurship, product development, branding and job creation.

Addressing the media, GHABA President Tina Offei Yirenkyi urged members to strengthen their business management capabilities, particularly in financial management, customer service, digital marketing and branding.

“Skill is important, but skill alone is not enough. Our members must also master business management, customer service, financial management, digital marketing and branding. We must move beyond simply owning salons and shops to building professional, sustainable and profitable enterprises,” she said.

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the General Secretary of the Industrial Workers’ Union, Morgan Ayawine, the Deputy General Secretary in charge of Operations, Emmanuel Benimah, called for greater recognition and support for apprentices in Ghana’s beauty industry.

He described apprentices as an important part of Ghana’s economy and future workforce, stressing the need to encourage young people and skilled professionals to embrace entrepreneurship and enterprise development as pathways to economic independence and wealth creation.

“It is important for us to encourage our young people and skilled professionals to consider entrepreneurship and enterprise development as viable avenues for economic independence and wealth creation, while also recognising and respecting the invaluable contribution of apprentices to our economy and society,” he said.

GHABA has organised regional hair and beauty festivals for about 25 years. However, the Association said it established the national platform to bring together practitioners, businesses, exhibitors and other stakeholders from across the country.

The national festival is intended to provide a platform for industry players to share knowledge, showcase products and services, promote creativity and strengthen the business capacity of professionals within Ghana’s beauty sector.