Vice President Opoku-Agyemang Backs Women-Led Industry as Local Beauty Brands Showcase Standards at 10th Legacy Expo

4th June•2 min read•8 sources

Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has reaffirmed the government's commitment to fostering inclusive economic growth by directly engaging with the private sector, specifically focusing on women-led enterprises. During a high-profile visit to Reroy Cables in Tema, the Vice President commended CEO Madam Kate Quartey-Papafio for her leadership and excellence in the male-dominated manufacturing industry. This visit underscores a broader national strategy to enhance policies that support local businesses and create more leadership opportunities for women, ensuring they have the necessary support to thrive in Ghana's industrial landscape.

Simultaneously, the 10th edition of the Beauty, Cosmetics and Wellness West Africa Ghana Expo, also known as the Legacy Expo, is underway at the UPSA Auditorium in Accra. The event, which marks a decade of promoting African beauty as a vital economic force, has become a platform for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) to defend the quality of Ghanaian-made products. Executives from local brands, including Macqrosa Sheabutter and Made By Radw, have strongly countered claims that local offerings are inferior to international brands, highlighting significant improvements in production standards, sustainability practices, and the strategic sourcing of local ingredients.

While celebrating local progress, industry leaders at the expo have urged the government to increase support for SMEs, particularly regarding access to capital and enhanced marketing opportunities. Rebecca Donkor, the organizer of the Legacy Expo, encouraged businesses to leverage the event to discover new markets and build sustainable brands. This year’s expo features over 300 exhibitors and highlights a new collaboration with the Ace Group and support from the Ministry of Trade, aimed at positioning West Africa as a hub for innovation in the wellness sector.

The expo has also attracted significant international interest, notably from Turkish beauty and cosmetic firms seeking to establish a foothold in the Ghanaian market. Ojuvi Perfume House, a premium brand under M3 Cosmetics, is among the foreign entities looking for local distributors with the potential goal of setting up a manufacturing plant in Ghana. This influx of international interest, coupled with the resilience of local SMEs and the government's focus on women-led manufacturing, signals a robust growth trajectory for Ghana’s industrial and beauty sectors.

This story touches markets covered on Anansi Intelligence ↗.

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Vice President Opoku-Agyemang Backs Women-Led Industry as Local Beauty Brands Showcase Standards at 10th Legacy Expo

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