“Pretty Hurts”: The unregulated war on beauty in Ghana – a sister thinking out loud

In Accra, Ghana, a stroll through bustling neighbourhoods like East Legon, Osu Oxford Street, Madina, Ablekuma, Spintex or a journey up north to Tamale, Kumasi, or move to the Western city of Takoradi reveals a striking trend: gleaming storefronts and social media adverts promising “perfect curves,” “pink skin,” “shiny teeth,” and “Hollywood smiles’ Flat tummies” . Beauty clinics and spas are multiplying at an unprecedented rate, offering everything from buttock and breast enhancements to flat…