"The President Has Gone Western on Us”: Analysis of the 2021 Presidential Inaugural Ceremony Dress Fashion Choice of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Ghana

Abstract

In contributing to the debate on presidential dress fashion politics and diplomacy in Ghana, the study investigated the views of Ghanaian audience (respondents) on the dress fashion choice of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his 2021 presidential inaugural ceremony. Adopting qualitative enquiry design, interviews and opinionnaires, the study elicited the views of seventeen (17) respondents comprising; fashion and textiles enthusiasts, Ghanaian cultural experts and the general public. The study found that Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo adopted Eurocentric suit for his 2021 presidential investiture.  Since Eurocentric suit is culturally alien to Ghanaian dress cultural identity, its choice was described as non-nationalistic and a disservice to the textiles and fashion industry in Ghana. It is recommended that succeeding Ghanaian presidents-elect should endeavour to source their dress fashions from the rich Ghanaian traditional textiles and fashion products in order to visually communicate their Ghanaian nationalistic identity as well as promote the unique Ghanaian textiles and fashion industry to the patronage of both local and international community.