A passionate plea has been made to some newly appointed ministers to reform the country's school hair policy, which requires Ghanaian girls to cut their hair short.
Akua Manfo also known as Blakofe in showbiz circles in an open letter to the Ministers of Education, Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Gender, Children and Social Protection, and Youth and Sports, has urged them to reconsider this “outdated practice”.
Ms Manfo argues that this policy perpetuates a harmful notion that natural African hair is unattractive or unmanageable, leading to a disconnection from cultural roots and a preference for Eurocentric beauty standards.
Her research, conducted as part of her MA in Development Communication, found that young Ghanaian girls feel "sad" and "inferior" when forced to cut their hair, especially when compared to their Indian and Lebanese classmates who are allowed to keep their long hair.
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The current policy, although not officially mandated by the government, has been enforced in many schools, contributing to the loss of traditional hairstyling skills like braiding, threading, and twisting.
Ms Manfo suggests that schools should empower parents and students to make their own choices regarding hair, allowing for simple, manageable styles like ponytails, braids, and cornrows.
She said the call for reform is part of a broader movement to redefine beauty standards and promote cultural pride in Ghana.
As Ms Manfo notes, "Resetting Ghana involves more than infrastructural change; it requires resetting mindsets, embracing our culture, and redefining beauty through our own lens."
