TVET Service, KNUST and KsTU Host First-Ever Fashion Fantasy and Beauty Pageant at KNUST Great Hall
The Ghana Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Service, in collaboration with the Faculty of Art at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and Kumasi Technical University (KsTU), has successfully organized the maiden edition of the Fashion Fantasy Show and Beauty Pageant at the KNUST Great Hall. The two-day event brought together students from various TVET institutions across the Ashanti Region under the theme “Unleashing Potentials and Creativity.”
The programme provided an innovative platform for students in TVET schools to showcase their talents in fashion, design, beauty, and art, while also reinforcing the critical role of technical and vocational education in Ghana’s socio-economic transformation. Many participants described the event as groundbreaking, noting that it not only celebrated creativity but also highlighted the vast opportunities available in the technical and vocational sector.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Kwabena Asubonteng of the Fashion Department at KNUST’s Faculty of Art emphasized the importance of TVET to Ghana’s future. He explained that while schools under the Ghana Education Service (GES) contribute to national development, it is TVET that holds the greater potential to transform the country, create sustainable jobs, and reduce the rising rate of youth unemployment. According to him, Ghana’s development rests heavily on skills and practical knowledge, which TVET institutions are uniquely positioned to provide.
Dr. Asubonteng urged parents to encourage their children, particularly Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates, to consider TVET pathways when choosing schools. He noted that many young people have God-given talents in painting, fashion, and design that can be nurtured into sustainable careers if given the right guidance and environment. He further advised students to combine their natural talents with discipline and hard work, stressing that “unnurtured talent dies early.” He encouraged them to allow God to guide their efforts so they could rise to become professionals in Ghana’s growing creative and technical industries.
Winners of the Competition
In the Fashion Fantasy category, the winners were:
- Comfort Arthur – Adako Jachie Technical Institute
- Esther Fosuaa – Afoako Technical Institute
- Aminatu Illiasu – Offinso Technical Institute
In the Beauty Pageantry category, the awards went to:
- Sarah Asokyine – Kumawu Technical Institute
- Comfort Fremah – Business Secretarial Technical Institute
- Ernestina Amponsah – St. Michael’s Technical Institute
The Ashanti Regional Director of TVET Service, Engineer Richard Addo Gyamfi, praised the initiative as a powerful tool for identifying and nurturing talent while also building confidence among students. He announced that the top three winning schools in the fashion category would each receive industrial and electric sewing machines, which would enable them to start businesses and apply their skills practically. He added that these awards would be closely monitored to ensure beneficiaries received the necessary support to transition into the job market.
At the climax of the event, judges presented certificates of recognition to participating schools and oversaw the distribution of the industrial sewing machines to the winners. This gesture was widely commended by participants, who described it as a major motivation for students to pursue their craft with dedication and to view TVET not just as education, but as a direct pathway to entrepreneurship and employment.
Engineer Addo Gyamfi also expressed gratitude to the Faculty of Art at both KNUST and KsTU for their continuous support in nurturing the talents of TVET students. He appealed to private companies to partner with TVET institutions to expand opportunities and ease the financial burden on government. He further called on the media in the Ashanti Region to dedicate airtime and space to promote TVET initiatives, stressing that increased publicity is critical to changing perceptions and encouraging more students to embrace vocational and technical education.
The two-day event drew a large crowd of students, parents, teachers, and stakeholders in the educational sector. It was hailed as a milestone in the effort to reposition TVET as a central pillar in Ghana’s educational and economic development agenda. Speakers and participants alike agreed that with the right support and resources, TVET remains the surest path to tackling unemployment, nurturing creativity, and building a self-reliant and industrialized nation.
