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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
The Dzidula Pink Foundation, a new organisation dedicated to cancer awareness, early detection, and patient support, has been officially launched in Accra, with a passionate call for national commitment to fighting the disease. The launch event, held last week Friday, carried the theme: “Beyond the diagnosis: A future of restoration, care and courage.”
Speaking at the event, Madam Abena Brigidi, founder and CEO of Nimed Capital Limited, emphasised that cancer remains one of the most devastating health challenges facing families across the country. “Cancer does not discriminate—it affects mothers, fathers, daughters, and sons. It drains families emotionally and financially, and behind every statistic is a human story and a future suddenly thrown into uncertainty,” she said.
Sharing her personal encounters with cancer, having lost both her husband and father to the disease, Madam Brigidi highlighted the emotional, financial, and physical scars left behind. “I stand here not just as a speaker, but as a witness to what cancer can take away,” she stated. “I have watched loved ones fight bravely, and I have felt the deep pain that loss leaves behind.”
She stressed that awareness and early detection are critical to reducing deaths, noting that many Ghanaians still lack access to proper screening, reliable information, and adequate treatment. She appealed to healthcare professionals, corporate institutions, policymakers, the media, and the general public to join hands in the fight. “Early detection saves lives. Your support today can lead to someone’s healing tomorrow,” she said.
Madam Brigidi further called for collective responsibility to sustain the foundation’s mission. “To our medical professionals, we need your expertise. To corporate partners, your resources. To the media, your voice. To policymakers, your support. And to the public, your compassion,” she urged. She also insisted that breast cancer awareness should not be limited to annual campaigns, saying, “Breast cancer awareness must not be seasonal.”
Mrs Diana Fafa Gozo, founder of the Dzidula Pink Foundation, shared her own cancer journey, describing the shock of diagnosis, the fear that followed, and the difficult path through treatment. Her experience transformed her pain into purpose and inspired her to create a foundation to ensure no cancer patient walks alone.
Mrs Gozo explained that many patients struggle not only with treatment costs but also with emotional resilience. She outlined the foundation’s initiatives, which include awareness and early detection campaigns, patient support funds, community outreach, and survival support circles. “This foundation is my offering of gratitude, courage, and compassion and a reminder that no one should walk the cancer journey alone,” she concluded.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) says it will deploy teams of Public Health Officers, members of its Sanitation Taskforce, and labourers, including sweepers and janitors, across all sub-metros to support the third National Sanitation Day exercise.
It explained that these teams will be equipped with waste collection trucks, tippers, and other tools to help with desilting, refuse collection, and transporting waste to approved disposal sites.
The AMA reminded residents that failing to comply with the sanitation directive or refusing to participate in communal labour is an offence.
It said offenders risk a fine of up to 100 penalty units, imprisonment between 30 days and six months, or both, with repeat offenders liable to additional daily penalties.
It urged all residents, traders, transport operators, market women, shop owners, landlords, tenants, and businesses to actively participate in the exercise.
The AMA said it counts on everyone’s collective responsibility to keep Accra clean, liveable, and resilient, especially as the city approaches Christmas and the New Year.
By: Jacob Aggrey
