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Edna Frimpong: The ‘shoemaker girl’ producing stylish footwear
About three weeks ago, we told the story of three entrepreneurs including two sisters, Kimberly and Priscilla, who are breaking new grounds in the area of local chocolate manufacturing.
In this edition, we cast the lens on another young female entrepreneur, Ms Edna Frimpong, who has resolved to build “a sustainable business and create jobs” by producing durable and affordable footwear.
Local footwear manufacturing has long been dominated by men but she is challenging the status quo with the footwear brand, “Fash_Slippers,” which has attracted a lot of clients in the past two years at Mataheko in Accra.
The self-taught shoemaker recently spoke to The Spectator about operations and prospects of the company which makes handcrafted leather slippers and sandals for both male and female.
Background
Edna attended Maamobi ‘1’ Junior High School in Accra before gaining admission to Adonten Senior High School at Aburi in the Eastern Region where she studied General Arts.
Currently, she is pursuing degree in Public Relations at Ghana Institute of Journalism, but said she acquired the skill from her father who has been a professional shoemaker for the past 20 years.
Being the first of three siblings, she lived with her father since childhood and used to help him at the workshop after school and eventually started doing what the father does.
After completing high school, she worked with Sub Saharan Education Project (SSEP) a non-governmental organisation, as a Project Coordinator for eight years but the organisation could not survive due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In order not to be idle, she decided to establish the Fash_Slippers brand and take the shoe making craft a notch higher by making her works visible on social media platforms.
She said the idea was to ‘modify’ her father’s business and possibly take over from him in future, adding that the business has taught her to “manage time and pay attention to details.”
Brand
‘The Shoemaker Girl’(a nickname she has adopted) said the emerging footwear brand has for the past two years received good patronage and remains committed to “crafting comfortable and stylish” footwear for clients.
Aiming to venture into other types of leather products in future, the company currently sells its range of footwear at GH¢ 100.00 minimum.
According to her, there has not been ‘discrimination’ on the job and that people rather patronise the footwear because they are “made by a woman.”
“Our footwear are made in Ghana from quality leather, they are well-crafted, affordable and meet the needs of all classes of people. The business has a beautiful future and we want to become one of the biggest footwear brands,” she noted.
The Founder and Creative Director admitted that the shoe making business has been profitable as it has enabled her to fund her tertiary education. For this reason, she hopes to continue making footwear even after obtaining her Bachelor’s Degree.
“I hope to get more money to re-invest and acquire the necessary skill through my education and apply it to my business,” she added.
Challenges
Flash_Slippers currently employs a few hands as and when demand for the footwear increases and intends training individuals who want to develop a skill in footwear making.
Apart from inadequate funds and equipment, Edna admits that sales revenue could be quite unstable especially when there is no ready market for the footwear.
She believes local businesses should be given the needed support to operate in more conducive environment in order to be successful.
“Price of raw material keeps increasing every day and this is a challenge. And if there are enough machines, it can speed up the production process and reduce human labour,” she says.
Advice
While expressing appreciation to individuals who have contributed to the growth of her business, she advises young girls to develop their skills in addition to the knowledge they acquire in school.
“When you take a decision commit it to the hands of God, do your part and He will do the rest. Never be ashamed of your hustle, no one will feed you if you are broke, be dirty to get your food instead of being clean and hungry,” she posted recently.
By Ernest Nutsugah
Massive celebrations were recorded countrywide as the Black Stars opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Panama in Toronto on Wednesday.
Midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi scored the only goal of the match late in the game as he shot in a decent cross from substitute Brandon Asante.
The win gave Ghana a positive start in the competition, placing them in second position behind England, also with three points but with a superior goal aggregate.
After the final whistle, the streets and other viewing centres were turned into partying grounds as fans, mostly clad in the team’s paraphernalia, danced to several World Cup-themed music.
Others blew the vuvuzelas in joyous mood with others putting up a spirited ‘jama’ session.
Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the Adentan Constituency, Akosua Manu, has urged party members to move away from what she describes as an “entitlement mentality” and focus on unity, sacrifice and hard work as the party prepares for the 2028 general election.
In a statement titled “Is Loyalty a Queue?”, and posted on facebook, Ms. Manu argued that loyalty to the NPP should not be judged by how long a person has been in the party but by their contributions and commitment to its growth.
According to her, the NPP’s history shows that many of its leaders faced significant opposition from within the party before eventually leading it to electoral success.
She cited former President John Agyekum Kufuor as an example, saying he had to overcome resistance from influential figures within the party before winning power for the NPP in 2000.
Ms. Manu noted that after the party lost power in 2008, former President Kufuor faced criticism and accusations from some party members.
However, she said supporters eventually put their differences aside and worked together to rebuild the party.
She pointed to the experience of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who, according to her, faced opposition from some factions within the NPP despite his long service to the party.
“His trials were ten times what Kufuor endured,” she stated, adding that Akufo-Addo eventually overcame the challenges and became President of Ghana.
Turning to the NPP’s current flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Ms. Manu said he also faced resistance from different groups within the party while seeking leadership.
She praised Dr. Bawumia for contributing to policy-based political discussions in Ghana and for remaining composed following the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 elections.
According to her, party members must now rally behind him in the same way they supported former Presidents Kufuor and Akufo-Addo.
Ms. Manu, however, warned that internal divisions and a sense of entitlement remain major threats to the party’s future.
She argued that some party members place too much emphasis on how long individuals have belonged to the NPP rather than on their contributions and capabilities.
“This entitlement does not question impact. It does not ask what you sacrificed or what you built. It asks only how long have you been here,” she said.
The former parliamentary candidate cautioned that such attitudes could discourage committed members and prevent the party from selecting the best people for leadership positions.
She further called on the party’s incoming national executives to strengthen the NPP’s core values of sacrifice, honesty, integrity and dedication to national development.
Ms. Manu addressed the concerns of young party supporters, many of whom she said became discouraged following the NPP’s electoral defeat in 2024.
According to her, many young people remain eager to see the party return to power but are unwilling to support internal conflicts driven by personal ambitions.
She urged party elders to place the interests of the NPP above their individual goals and to demonstrate leadership that attracts rather than alienates members.
“The NPP is bigger than any one of us. It always has been. Our collective responsibility is to act like it,” she stated.
By: Jacob Aggrey
