Accra, Ghana – September 20, 2026: Africans have been urged to take greater responsibility for developing, processing and adding value to the continent’s abundant raw materials rather than exporting them for processing and value addition elsewhere.
The call was made by Makeba Nana Boateng, APR, ISA, USPAP, Lead Curator of the Alternative Fashion Fabric Fair and Founder of Fashion Forum Africa, during the launch of the Alternative Fashion Fabric Fair (Alt.FFF) 2026 in Accra.
The inaugural fair was held on Saturday, September 19, at The Palms Convention Centre, La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, bringing together stakeholders within Africa’s fashion, textile and materials ecosystem. The event was designed to place African materials at the centre of conversations around fashion, manufacturing, trade and innovation.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Okogyeaman Seidu Abdul Ganiu of Ahotor FM 92.3, Makeba Nana Boateng said Africa must become more deliberate about how it uses its natural resources and develops industries around them.
She argued that the continent should not continue to depend heavily on other parts of the world to process African raw materials and return finished products to African markets.
According to her, adding value to raw materials within Africa would help strengthen local industries, create employment opportunities and contribute to the development of a more sustainable fashion and manufacturing ecosystem.
She further called for stronger trade and collaboration among African countries, stressing the need for countries on the continent to develop systems that allow them to benefit more directly from their own resources.
Her comments formed part of the broader discussions at Alt.FFF 2026, which sought to connect African producers, manufacturers, artisans, designers, buyers and other players across the fashion and textile value chain.
The Alternative Fashion Fabric Fair was organised around the theme of placing materials before fashion, highlighting the importance of the resources and processes that form the foundation of the fashion industry.
The fair showcased raw, semi-processed and finished African materials, including kente, indigo and adire, leather, raw cotton, natural dyes, raffia, cowrie and shells, among others.
The platform also brought together manufacturers, textile producers, artisans, material innovators, ethical producers and businesses involved in sourcing and processing materials within Africa.
The organisers say the fair is intended to create opportunities for collaboration, sourcing, sales and connections between African producers and buyers, including those seeking materials for fashion and related industries.
Also speaking to the Ahotor News team, Rex Owusu Marfo, popularly known as Rex Omar, Presidential Aide responsible for the Black Star Experience Office of the President, called on Ghanaians to take greater pride in and promote their culture.
Rex Omar said culture remains an important part of a nation’s identity and should not be neglected.
He encouraged Ghanaians to support locally produced goods and services by embracing Ghanaian clothing, food and music.
According to him, greater patronage of locally produced products could help create employment opportunities and contribute to the growth of local businesses and the creative economy.
He noted that while Ghana produces a wide range of its own products, some consumers continue to favour imported alternatives.
Rex Omar therefore urged Ghanaians to change their attitudes towards locally produced goods and give greater support to Ghanaian businesses and cultural products.
He mentioned popular Ghanaian foods including waakye, gobɛ, fufu, apreprensa and konkonte as examples of local products that should be promoted and embraced.
Participants at the Alternative Fashion Fabric Fair also shared their experiences with the Ahotor News team.
Some participants said the programme provided them with an opportunity to learn more about alternative fashion, locally sourced materials and the processes involved in transforming raw materials into products for the fashion and creative industries.
They also highlighted the importance of supporting African-made products and creating stronger connections between producers, designers, manufacturers and consumers.
The organisers say Alt.FFF is intended to strengthen Africa’s fashion and textile ecosystem by creating opportunities for businesses across the continent to connect with buyers, partners and markets.
The discussions at the fair reflect a wider conversation about how African countries can move beyond the export of raw materials and develop stronger local and regional value chains.
For the fashion and textile sector, this includes strengthening the production of fibres, fabrics, dyes, leather and other materials, while supporting the manufacturers, artisans and businesses that transform these resources into finished products.
The Alternative Fashion Fabric Fair therefore provided a platform for stakeholders to showcase African materials and explore opportunities for trade, innovation and collaboration.
With Africa’s fashion industry increasingly connected to global markets, advocates such as Makeba Nana Boateng are calling for greater attention to what happens before the final fashion product reaches consumers — from the sourcing and processing of raw materials to manufacturing, branding and distribution.
The inaugural Alt. FFF brought these issues into focus while encouraging stakeholders to view African materials not simply as raw resources, but as part of a wider value chain capable of supporting businesses, jobs, innovation and cultural identity.
Story filed by Okogyeaman Seidu Abdul Ganiu Ahotor FM 92.3 – Accra
