Accra, April 8, GNA - The Exopa Model Agency on Tuesday launched the Ghana Fashion Weekend (GFW) amid pomp and pageantry to showcase some of the best talents in the Ghanaian as well as African fashion industry. Under the auspices of the ministries of Tourism and Trade and Industry, this year's GFW event is a blend of modelling shows in addition to a four-day fashion exhibition show which will run concurrently at the Accra International Conference Centre from July 1-4.

Apart from offering corporate firms the opportunity to showcase their products, this industry-focused event also aims to explore, boost interest and attract investments into the fashion industry. Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, Minister for Tourism, who launched the event in Accra, called for the integration of unique Ghanaian items such as music, fabrics, design oriented products, among others, into the Ghanaian tourist attraction list. Mrs Azumah-Mensah said the Ghanaian tourism industry could not be sustained if the industry players failed to appreciate the unique values of the country's traditions and culture and continued to copy and desire foreign ideals. "If tourists are attracted to our country because of the uniqueness of our culture and we replace it with that of the visitors, we will have nothing to sustain the interest of our visitors." She expressed the hope that the GFW 2009 event would showcase unique Ghanaian and African ideals to make Accra the capital city of Africa Fashion.

Mr Ibrahim Sima, Chief Executive Officer of the Exopa Model Agency, said the GFW 2009 was promising colour, style, glamour and splendour during the event that would be the biggest ever to be organized in the Ghanaian fashion industry. Mr Sima said the event would feature 30 designers from all over the world adding that the German-Ghanaian star of show time drama, "Soul Food", Boris Kodjoe would be making an appearance for the first time with his Ziami Clothing Line.

He said 100 Exopa Models, 40 of who would come from Germany, UK, France, Venezuela and the United States, would treat the audience to the best of the catwalk experience. Mr Sima called on corporate organizations to support the event for maximum returns. This year's event is under the sponsorship of FC Beauty Klinik, Softshen Carson and Redds among others.