As Ghana looks to align skills development with emerging economic opportunities, the Ghana TVET Service has partnered with The OR Foundation to stage the Next Gen Fashion Icon Showcase as part of National TVET Week 2026, introducing circular design and sustainable fashion into the national training agenda.
The partnership brings together the national body responsible for coordinating Technical and Vocational Education and Training with a globally recognized organization in circular economy innovation, whose work within Ghana’s textile and creative sectors is well established. At the center of the collaboration is the Next Gen Fashion Icon Showcase, a flagship event under National TVET Week that will provide learners with a national platform to demonstrate both their technical ability and creative potential in circular design.
In markets such as Kantamanto, the scale of discarded clothing is visible every day. What is often treated as waste is also a source of income for many who have built skills around repairing, repurposing and reselling textiles. This partnership builds on that reality by equipping a new generation of learners with the skills to turn discarded materials into products of value, while reducing the strain on the environment.
The collaboration also draws on The OR Foundation’s longstanding work in Ghana. Following the devastating fire at the Kantamanto market, the Foundation committed over US$3 million in emergency relief and recovery support, assisting thousands of traders, artisans and small businesses to rebuild. Its broader initiatives, including the globally recognized Obroni Wawu October festival and skills programmes for young designers and upcyclers, continue to support livelihoods across the textile sector.
Speaking on the partnership, the Director-General of the Ghana TVET Service, Engr. Dr Eric Kofi Adzroe, said the showcase would give the public a direct view of the capabilities of TVET learners.
“The fashion show gives every Ghanaian the chance to witness, first hand, what our learners are capable of. When people see garments made from what was once thrown away, they begin to look at their surroundings differently. It invites all of us to rethink waste, to see it not as rubbish, but as raw material waiting for skilled hands,” he said.
The Deputy Director-General in charge of Management Services, Mr Abdul Fatah Maigah Mahama Esq, noted that the partnership extends beyond a single event and speaks to the future direction of skills development.
“This partnership raises a bigger conversation than one event. It challenges us to look at our curriculum design itself and ask whether sustainability is treated as an add-on or as a core competency. The future demands that we mainstream sustainability into all our trade areas, from construction to cosmetology, so that every graduate leaves with circular thinking built into their craft,” he said.
Dr Adzroe further highlighted the learning opportunities the collaboration presents, noting that exposure to The OR Foundation’s instructors would broaden the horizons of learners beyond the classroom.
“One of the greatest gifts of this partnership is the chance it affords our learners to expand their knowledge base by learning directly from The OR Foundation’s instructors. Our young people will be exposed to global best practices in upcycling and circular design, and that kind of mentorship shapes not just skills, but vision,” he said.
The OR Foundation’s Co-Founder and Executive Director, Ms Elizabeth Ricketts, said Ghana is well positioned to lead globally in sustainable fashion and that the partnership will help build the systems required to support that ambition.
“When it comes to sustainable fashion, Ghana has so much to teach the world. At The OR Foundation, our goal is to ensure that young people interested in circularity, alongside creative entrepreneurs already pioneering circular practices, have access to the institutional support, training, and business development they need to thrive. Together with TVET we can expand this work and position Ghana as a global flagship for a fashion economy that says no to the fast fashion business model and instead advances both environmental sustainability and economic opportunity,” she said.
The Next Gen Fashion Icon Showcase will form part of the National TVET Week celebrations scheduled for 12 to 16 October 2026, bringing together stakeholders from government, industry, development partners and civil society to examine the future of skills development in Ghana.
Beyond dialogue, the partnership provides a practical pathway for aligning training with emerging economic opportunities. By integrating circular design into skills training and providing learners with a platform to apply their craft, the initiative contributes to building a workforce that is both environmentally conscious and economically productive.
About Ghana TVET Service
The Ghana TVET Service is mandated to coordinate and oversee the delivery of technical and vocational education and training in Ghana, ensuring quality, relevance and alignment with industry needs to support sustainable national development.
