BY Issah Olegor
President John Dramani Mahama has come under criticism following his absence from the maiden edition of the Presidential Runway fashion event organised under the Black Star Experience initiative at the Royal Senchi Hotel in Akosombo on Saturday, November 7, 2026.
The President’s absence has raised questions about his commitment to the cultural and creative arts initiative, particularly because he personally promised to participate in the fashion show when the Black Star Experience was officially launched in May 2025.
At the launch on May 1, 2025, one of the major highlights was Mahama’s pledge to grace the runway at a fashion show to be organised by the Black Star Experience Secretariat in July of that year.
However, the proposed event did not take place in 2025, and its eventual organisation in November 2026 was expected to fulfil the President’s earlier promise.
Ahead of the event, publicity surrounding the programme indicated that Mahama would participate in the fashion show at the Royal Senchi Hotel, where the runway presentation was given the name Presidential Runway.His failure to attend has therefore attracted criticism from observers who believe his presence would have given the initiative the presidential endorsement and public visibility it needs.
In an assessment of the development, a commentator acknowledged that the President had a demanding schedule in recent days and several engagements on the day of the event. However, the commentator questioned whether those commitments sufficiently justified his absence from a programme linked to a promise he had personally made.
The argument is that Mahama could have made arrangements to attend the fashion event, even if it meant delegating some of his other engagements to representatives.
The criticism also centres on the importance of the maiden edition of the Presidential Runway. As an initiative launched by the President himself, his participation was considered significant in demonstrating the government’s seriousness about promoting Ghana’s fashion industry and the wider creative arts sector.
According to the commentator, the Black Star Experience initiative has struggled to establish its direction since its launch, making the President’s presence at the fashion event particularly important.
His participation, the argument suggests, would have sent a strong message of institutional commitment, attracted greater public attention and strengthened confidence among stakeholders in the creative industry.
The commentator further warned that the President’s absence could undermine the credibility of an initiative that was introduced as an important component of Ghana’s cultural and creative arts agenda.
Addressing Mahama directly, the critic said his failure to honour the runway commitment did not bode well for the Black Star Experience, especially at a time when the initiative needed strong leadership and visibility to establish itself.
