Career geographies in the Ghanaian fashion industry: from brain drain to brain gain and brain circulation
Date
2023
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Globalisation, Societies and Education
Abstract
Brain drain has long been argued to be one of Africa’s key development
challenges. This paper provides a more nuanced analysis of African
career mobility through a focus on professionals in the creative
industries, specifically Ghanaian fashion designers. Drawing on
interviews with 31 fashion designers but focussing on the career
geography of internationally renowned Kofi Ansah, we show how ‘brain
drain’ turned into ‘brain gain’ and consequently ‘brain circulation’,
fundamentally transforming Ghana’s fashion industry. The paper thus
demonstrates how the knowledge and expertise return migrants gather
through international career mobility can be converted into assets at an
individual, national, and international level.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Career geographies, Fashion in Africa, Ghanaian fashion industry
Citation
To cite this article: Adwoa Owusuaa Bobie, Akosua Keseboa Darkwah & Katherine V. Gough (2023): Career geographies in the Ghanaian fashion industry: from brain drain to brain gain and brain circulation, Globalisation, Societies and Education, DOI: 10.1080/14767724.2023.2236563