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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
Madam Sandra Seyram Kpedor, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Anloga in the Volta Region, has emphasised the importance of parental involvement in children’s education, stating that education is free, but parents need to do more to support their children.
She said parents, teachers, and students must be involved in addressing the challenges facing the district’s education sector, particularly the poor Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results.
Madam Kpedor outlined some key roles parents should play to promote their children’s education, including providing a conducive learning environment, monitoring their children’s progress, and supporting teachers.
The DCE highlighted some challenges the district faced such as inadequate infrastructure and a shortage of teachers, which have also contributed to the poor BECE results and called on well-to-do parent to help solve the situation through and other supports.
To address the issues, she also announced that plans have been taken to utilise the district’s common fund to implement educational projects, such as constructing school blocks and teachers’ bungalows at Sodzi community, and 2-unit classroom blocks each at Akplorwutorkor and Tegbi-Afedome respectively, among others.
Madam Kpedor also noted that her office had earlier notified the Ministry of Education to deploy more teachers to the area to improve teaching and learning, and encouraged students to work hard and strive for excellence, and work beyond their limit to succeed.
“To my wonderful and beautiful girls, you have to know it clear that women and girls have equal opportunities to compete with men for greater achievements,” she indicated.
The DCE cited her own achievement as a testament to the fact that women can excel in leadership positions, alongside Vice President Nana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, and stressed that girls were no longer limited to domestic roles but can pursue their dreams and become leaders.
Additionally, she mentioned that a meeting was held earlier with assembly members, and other stakeholders to address the district’s educational challenges and improve academic performance.
She promised that the district’s education oversight committee and stakeholders would work together to address the challenges and improve the district’s BECE results and called for parental involvement and support to boost the district’s education sector for children to chase their dreams to become future leaders for the success of the district and the nation.
She urged parents not to leave everything to the government but rather help in the provision of some necessary materials such as textbooks, exercise books, pens, pencils, food, and guidance to children for the successes of young learners. –GNA
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The spokesperson for Dr. Bawumia, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has criticised the implementation of the NDC government’s No Fee Stress policy, arguing that the programme has failed to deliver on its core promise.
According to him on Starr fm, the policy, which was introduced to ensure stress free payment of fees for level 100 tertiary students, has rather turned into what he described as post stress support.
He explained that students are required to pay their fees first before applying for reimbursement, a situation he believes defeats the purpose of the policy.
He questioned claims by government officials that the policy has been successful and that citizens are happy.
In his view, such claims do not reflect the lived realities of many Ghanaians. He stressed that while some people may appear satisfied, many others continue to struggle.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye pointed to the situation of trained teachers and nurses who have been picketing for nearly six months, demanding employment.
He noted that government responses suggesting it cannot accommodate all of them contradict claims of economic stability.
He further argued that economic indicators such as a stable currency mean little to people who are unable to secure jobs or access promised support.
He observed that telling an unemployed teacher or a struggling student that the cedi has strengthened does not address their immediate challenges.
On the issue of tertiary education, he maintained that no level 100 student benefited from stress free fees in 2025, despite the policy being announced.
He added that in 2026, students have already reported to school without receiving the promised support.
He insisted that asking students to pay fees first and seek reimbursement later amounts to support after hardship, not stress free education.
According to him, this approach goes against what was promised during the policy announcement.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye questioned why a government that presents the economy as strong is unable to fulfil what he described as simple and clear promises.
He added that there is a fundamental problem with the way the economy is being managed and indicated that he is prepared to explain his position further.
By: Jacob Aggrey
