Accra: Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has provided clarity on the decision to designate Wednesdays for the wearing of Fugu, a traditional Ghanaian attire. This initiative, announced on February 10, 2026, by the Ministry, aims to preserve, promote, and celebrate Ghana's cultural heritage.
According to Ghana Web, some individuals questioned why Fridays, already recognized as a day for wearing African attire among the formal working class, were not chosen instead. Addressing these inquiries on the Point of View with Umaru Sanda, aired on February 24, Gomashie explained that the choice of Wednesday was intentional to highlight Fugu. She emphasized, "The Friday wear is an opportunity for you to wear anything that's Ghanaian or African on Friday. But to be deliberate about promoting Fugu, we had to give it a day. And I thought that it just looked and sounded right to make it a midweek wear."
Gomashie further remarked that the wearing of traditional African clothes should transcend specific days and become a daily practice. She stated, "My point is, wear your African clothes every day.that's what keeps the money here. That's what keeps the money in the country. We're promoting heritage. and all of it together is what makes tourism thrive."
Additionally, Gomashie encouraged citizens to independently embrace locally made attire without waiting for government directives. "So, my point is you shouldn't even wait for me to tell you or suggest to you that you should wear Fugu on Wednesday. You should decide that every day you are going to wear something that identifies us," she urged.
The Fugu gained international attention earlier in February when President John Dramani Mahama wore the attire during a visit to Zambia. This sparked an online discussion when some social media users in Zambia labeled the attire as a blouse, prompting many Ghanaians to engage in spreading education and awareness of the attire.
Highlighting traditional products like the Fugu and Shea Butter is part of the Ministry's broader strategy to enhance cultural tourism, stimulate local textile production, and promote economic retention through heritage-driven consumption.