Labour Minister urges youth to target Zambia market amid viral 'fugu'
The Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, has urged young Ghanaians to pursue business openings linked to last week's 'buss' about fugu following President John Dramani Mahama’s visit to Zambia.
In a television interview with GTV on Monday [February 9, 2026], Dr Pelpuo called on the youth to act while global interest in the northern Ghana garment remains strong.
“Young people, look around, go where it is demanded, the smock [fugu] is demanded,” Dr Pelpuo said. “Let’s not just do the smock, let’s do the kente as well. So we carry these things out to the world.”
Dr Pelpuo, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for Wa Central, added: “Take advantage of it. Pass it on. Take advantage and pass it on.”
His comment followed President Mahama’s state visit to Zambia from February 4 to 6, 2026, which drew media attention to the fugu he wore. After some Zambians, unfamiliar with the attire, described it as a blouse, and thereby leading to exchanges online.
Dr Pelpuo said he had received information suggesting trade prospects had emerged from the debate. “I sent it to another person who said the smock is now in high demand in Zambia,” he said.
During the Ghana-Zambia Business Dialogue held on February 6, 2026, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema said he had instructed his team to publicly associate with the fugu and would be “ordering more of that stuff” for distribution among citizens.
Dr Pelpuo also recounted receiving messages from Zambian officials. “Yesterday I got a response from a member of parliament from Zambia. And he said, I love Ghana,” he said. “He brought up pictures when their former president used to wear cloth, Ghanaian cloth, kente and other things, and said, look, those people who said it were ignorant.”
