From a rural community in the Volta Region to the threshold of entrepreneurship, Margaret Agordo is preparing to launch OrangeTick Fashion, a personal brand she has built on years of certified vocational training in garment design and construction.
Agordo, who grew up in Ashanti Kpoeta, completed her foundational studies at Amedzofe Technical Institute, where she trained in fashion and designing. She later advanced her qualifications at Hannah Fashion School, sitting professional examinations under both the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) and the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET), the national framework that certifies trade graduates across Ghana.
The certifications mark a recognised milestone in Ghana’s vocational training system, allowing graduates to transition from supervised apprenticeship into independent professional practice.
Agordo shared her story with Samuel Kwame Boadu, Editor-in-Chief of Accra Street Journal, reflecting on what the training process taught her beyond sewing technique. “Vocational training teaches you patience and commitment,” she said. “You learn that skill development takes time, and the more effort you put into it, the better you become.”
She is also a member of the Ghana Cooperative of Fashion and Dressmakers Association (GCFDA), which convenes members for workshops, industry engagements, and professional development sessions across the country.
OrangeTick Fashion is currently in its pre-launch phase, with Agordo already building awareness through her community and on social media. For a graduate from a rural background with limited access to capital, establishing a personal brand represents both a commercial and personal milestone.
Her path echoes a wider shift in how vocational education is perceived in Ghana. Despite historically being regarded as a fallback option, technical and fashion training programmes at institutions across the Volta Region and beyond have produced a growing number of self-employed designers who now run their own businesses and contribute to local economies.
Agordo says she hopes her experience encourages other young women from similar backgrounds to consider the same route toward economic independence.
