Linda Ampah at the launch of CAA’s ‘Inspire the Creative in-Me!’ pilot event
The Creative Arts Agency (CAA) of Ghana, on Thursday, July 17, 2025, successfully rolled out the pilot edition of its new initiative aimed at empowering young Ghanaian creatives.
Dubbed the “Inspire the Creative-in-Me! Project,” the initiative seeks to challenge long-standing misconceptions about the creative arts, boost the confidence of budding talents, and provide mentorship and guidance for building successful careers in various creative fields.
The pilot marks a significant step in the Agency’s broader efforts to reposition Ghana’s fashion and creative sectors as engines of economic growth, moving beyond the outdated view of the arts as mere entertainment or leisure.
The first edition, “The Fashion Dialogue Series with Linda Ampah,” was held at the Korle Gonno Community Library in Accra and brought together leading voices in Ghana’s fashion industry, including Linda Ampah, CEO of Cadling Fashions; Beatrice “Bee” Arthur, designer and Fashion Domain Head of the Ghana Culture Forum; and Makeba Nana Pokua Boateng, founder of Fashion Forum Africa.
In his opening remarks, Gideon Aryeequaye, Acting Executive Secretary of the Creative Arts Agency, decried the “limited lens” through which the creative sector is viewed, despite its profound impact on culture, identity, and livelihoods.
“It’s quite unfortunate that in the very society where the basis of life and living is undeniably art, art is less revered,” he said. “The scope of all that art is, is wrongly restricted to just entertainment.”
Aryeequaye reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment, aligned with President John Dramani Mahama’s ‘Reset Agenda’, to build a strong foundation for the sector through strategic policies and an enabling environment where creatives can thrive.
Describing fashion as “the largest constituency within the creative ecosystem,” he emphasized the need for targeted interventions to correct misconceptions and provide viable career pathways for the youth.
“This project is part of a national strategy to connect aspiring creatives with industry leaders through mentorship, masterclasses, and technical workshops,” he explained. “It is designed to build confidence and capacity among young Ghanaians, positioning them as contributors to a more formalized creative economy.”
The Fashion Dialogue Series exemplified this approach, fostering direct engagement between seasoned professionals and aspiring artists. Aryeequaye also highlighted the sector’s untapped economic potential, particularly in job creation and export value.
“Fashion in Ghana is more than just a style, it is a thriving industry that creates jobs and builds impressive futures,” he said.
The Agency’s work, he noted, aligns with national cultural development strategies under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, and draws inspiration from President Mahama’s Black Star Experience, a campaign to globally promote Ghanaian heritage.
He concluded with a rousing call to action: “Let this event be a springboard that makes the sky your starting point,” he said, stressing the Agency’s vision of Creativity Without Borders as central to unlocking the creative sector’s full economic potential.
The next pilot edition of the “Inspire the Creative-in-Me!” Project is scheduled for July 30, 2025, at the same venue, and will focus on the discipline of fine art—specifically painting.
