The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has pledged its support for make-up artists and other creative industry players as part of efforts to promote skills development and self-employment among the youth.
This comes after Roselyn Akosua Mantey, a renowned Ghanaian make-up artist with eight years of experience in the beauty industry, set a new Guinness World Record for the longest marathon make-up session, clocking an impressive 103 hours, 25 minutes, and 33 seconds.
Speaking at a press conference, Akosua Mantey appealed to the Ghana Tourism Authority to support her “Got A SKILL” initiative, which is aimed at empowering talented young people in Ghana and beyond through comprehensive training in the beauty and creative arts industry.
The initiative focuses on equipping young people with practical skills in areas such as dressmaking, make-up artistry, fashion design, and beadwork, with the goal of transforming the lives of unemployed and underemployed youth.
In a brief remark on behalf of the CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, the Deputy CEO, Mr. Gilbert Abeiku Aggrey, popularly known as Abeiku Santana, expressed excitement about Akosua Mantey’s achievement and described it as a source of national pride.
“We are delighted to have you here today, especially Akosua Mantey, who is making Ghana proud with this very unique Guinness World Record as the longest-standing creative make-up artist,” he stated.
Mr. Aggrey highlighted that over the past two years, Ghana has been a major attraction on the global stage for individuals attempting to break Guinness World Records in various fields such as reading, cooking, and painting.
“For me, Akosua Mantey’s attempt is the most enviable because it showcases skill and talent. According to the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) data, from 2016 to 2029, there has been significant growth in tertiary vocational education skills. The government has even launched the ‘Work Abroad Program,’ which focuses on skill-based training,” he added.
He emphasized the need for Ghanaians to value vocational skills, noting that in many developed countries, skilled professionals are well-respected and highly paid.
“This record shows that there is a high demand for skilled jobs. As a government agency responsible for promoting and marketing Ghana, we are committed to supporting this initiative to create awareness among the youth that make-up artistry is a viable and profitable career path,” Mr. Aggrey concluded.
In her remarks, Roselyn Akosua Mantey explained that her Guinness World Record attempt was not only about setting a personal milestone but also about using the platform to showcase the potential of young people with skills.
“I took it upon myself to embark on this marathon to showcase what we have as young women or young men when we develop a skill. Learning a skill is very important,” she noted.
She further encouraged Ghanaians to patronize local beauty brands, highlighting that many people are unaware that there are Ghanaian-made make-up products in the market.
“This was a way to showcase and tell the world that we also produce beauty brands here in Ghana,” she added.
By Madjid Diallo || GhanaNewsOnline