Mr Prince Bugnaba Mba, President of the Forum for Equity, has called for the immediate ban on the importation of human hair from certain Asian and South American countries, describing the practice as an affront to Ghana‘s cultural values and a drain on the nation’s foreign exchange.
He said it was “an undisputed fact that human hair from some of these countries is more expensive than gold,” adding that the trend made “a mockery of our traditional values” and undermined efforts to strengthen economic management and currency control.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra on the costly importation of human hair, Mr Mba said common reasoning made it unacceptable that Ghanaians were spending heavily on such foreign beauty accessories. He therefore urged local research institutions to develop alternative models using plant-based materials.
“We therefore challenge our research centres to come out with alternative models from plants like silky fibre of corn and other similar crops. There’s also a possibility of getting a non-inflammation petrochemical type to satisfy the ever-growing demand,” he suggested.
Mr Mba further proposed that public officials should be banned from wearing imported human hair while on duty, advocating instead for the promotion of natural African beauty. “The natural beauty could be enhanced by the application of shea butter, coconut oil, and palm kernel oil. Africans need Miss Natural Beauty, without attachments of ghostlike fingernails,” he said.
He invoked the example of the late Kobina Sekyi, a nationalist who rejected colonial attire, urging Ghanaians to embrace similar pride in their identity. “We must take the lead and ahead as the gateway of Africa. Africa beyond colonial fashion trends is a multi-billion-dollar saving philosophy which would definitely improve our economic well-being and enforce our pride as creative and positive-minded people,” Mr Mba stated.
