What started in 2011 as a group of people soliciting modelling jobs has grown into a multi-service talent and events company with a presence in several cities across Ghana.
Today, Recess Model Agency, also known as Recess Hostesses and Waiters, works across modelling, hosting, marketing, hospitality, event staffing, planning and coordination. But behind the business is a story rooted in its founder’s own experience within the industry and a desire to create a better environment for women pursuing opportunities in modelling and events.
Founded by Ruth SEFAKOR Akumiah, Recess began as a strict modelling agency before gradually expanding its services to include hostesses, marketers, waiters and, eventually, event planning and coordination. The business was formally registered as a company in 2015.
Creating a Different Kind of Space
For Akumiah, the decision to build Recess was personal.
Having worked as a model and marketer herself, she had first-hand experience of some of the pressures young women could encounter while trying to secure jobs in the industry.
“There was pressure to always be nice to our male leads even when they were being disrespectful or inappropriate,” she explains. “So I had to step up and create a safe space for other ladies looking to build themselves.”
That experience became part of the foundation on which Recess was built — a company focused not only on providing talent for events, but also on creating an environment where its talents can work professionally and develop themselves.
Over the years, the agency has grown beyond modelling. Its current services cover event staffing and ushering, hosting, marketing, hospitality, exhibitions, event coordination, and other event-related needs.
More Than Just Ushers
Recess’ philosophy is that event staffing should never be treated as an afterthought.
According to Akumiah, one of the misconceptions within the industry is that staffing is simply about having people available to welcome or seat guests.
“Most events and planners think event staffing is unimportant or is a minor part of the whole process,” she says. “But we play a very important role in your event. Your event can go wrong in different ways without the right staff.”
For Recess, the job goes beyond appearance and smiles. The agency considers the nature of each event and selects talents according to the specific responsibilities required.
The company says its wide range of staff allows it to match different personalities and abilities with different event requirements, recognising that “each talent is unique in their own way.”
The goal is to create what the agency describes as a seamless experience for guests, regardless of their age, background or temperament.
Going the Extra Mile
One of the things Recess identifies as central to its service is its willingness to take responsibility beyond the narrow boundaries of an assignment.
Because the company also has an event planning background, its team says it is often able to identify and address issues that may arise during an event, even when those issues fall outside the original scope of its assignment.
“We walk through the whole event process and make sure no stone is left unturned,” Akumiah says.
For clients, that approach is intended to provide peace of mind. Instead of having to focus on every small issue during an event, organisers can concentrate on their guests, programme or other responsibilities while Recess handles the areas entrusted to its team.
The company also places emphasis on appearance, approach and creating a welcoming atmosphere.
“With Recess we go the extra mile in terms of appearance, approach and even extra services needed for the event,” Akumiah explains. “We create a warm event space, making both organisers and audience feel our presence.”
Experience Across Major Events
More than a decade in the industry has given Recess the opportunity to work across a wide variety of events, from weddings and seminars to concerts and large conferences.
The agency says its clients and projects have included Caveman Watches, Mastercard Foundation, Accra Brewery and GTBank, among others.
Its experience has also extended to major events such as the Accra Games 2023, the Afrexim conference and the World Trade Center conference.
For an agency operating in an industry where every event can bring a different set of expectations, this range of experience has also become part of its learning process.
Akumiah says the agency encourages its staff to contribute ideas and take ownership of their responsibilities rather than simply waiting for instructions.
“Our staff learns new things every day as each experience adds a new thought or a new improvisation skill,” she says. “I make them take charge and bring ideas on board and make them a part of the preparation process.”
The objective is to build a team capable of delivering even when the founder herself is not physically present.
The Challenges Behind the Service
Like many businesses in the events industry, Recess has also had to navigate challenges on the business side of event staffing.
Akumiah points to delayed payments, clients underestimating the number of staff required for an event, and situations where staff members are overworked or not treated appropriately.
Pricing is another challenge, particularly when clients are unwilling to pay what the required service demands.
For Recess, these experiences have reinforced the importance of understanding that professional event staffing is a service with its own value, rather than simply an additional expense attached to an event.
Akumiah’s advice to clients looking for an event staffing agency is therefore to look beyond appearances.
“If you are looking for an event staffing agency, don’t just look for fancy clothes and smiles or facial beauty,” she says. “It has to be an agency that understands you and is willing to go the extra mile to make the event a success.”
Bringing Designers Together Through HNM Fashion Show
Alongside its work in event staffing and coordination, Recess is also the sole organiser of Heels and Muscles Fashion Show (HNM Fashion Show), an annual platform designed to bring established and emerging designers together.
The concept addresses a challenge faced by many student and upcoming fashion designers: the cost of putting together and participating in professional fashion shows.
According to Recess, HNM Fashion Show was created to give these designers an opportunity to showcase their creativity and connect with potential customers and audiences without facing the same barriers that can come with larger fashion productions.
This year’s edition, HNM26, is built around the theme “Rebirth.”
And Akumiah is keeping much of what will happen on the runway under wraps.
“Prepare to be mind blown!” she says. “It’s been exciting planning this event and there is so much I wish to share but then it wouldn’t be a surprise if I did.”
The show is scheduled for 10 October at the National Theatre Exhibition Hall.
A Fashion Show With a Shopping Experience
One of the distinguishing features of HNM Fashion Show is the way designers are expected to interpret the show’s theme.
Rather than being given a fixed visual direction, designers are encouraged to understand the theme and interpret it through their own creative language, collections and thought processes.
Recess says the hope is to encourage audiences to step outside familiar boundaries and explore the possibilities that creativity and fashion can offer.
But HNM26 is not intended to be only a runway experience.
Fashion lovers attending the event will also have an opportunity to purchase pieces directly from the collections displayed on the runway, with prices designed to be accessible to a wider audience.
The organisers say attendees can expect pieces at prices starting from around GH₵100, GH₵200 and GH₵300, depending on the items.
Among the established designers listed for this year’s show are Cozy Couture, Odefille, Bushai Weave, Klenam Chis Place and Trulyblack, with representatives of the event’s sponsors also expected to attend.
For ticket holders, the organisers have announced regular tickets at GH₵150, while VIP tickets at GH₵250 offer front-row seating and HNM Fashion Show souvenirs as keepsakes.
Building a Name in Ghana’s Events Industry
Looking ahead, Recess hopes to expand its operations into more regions while improving its existing services and introducing additional offerings that can enhance event experiences.
The company currently operates in Accra, Cape Coast, Takoradi, Kumasi and Sunyani.
Its long-term ambition is straightforward: to make Recess a household name when it comes to event staffing and seamless event services.
For clients, the company says its wider network also allows it to assist beyond staffing. Recess works with partner companies covering areas such as logistics and décor, enabling it to help clients put together different aspects of their events.
“We keep your requests in mind and give you updates to make sure we are in sync with your preferences,” Akumiah says.
From a group looking for modelling jobs in 2011 to a growing events and talent management company operating across multiple cities, Recess Model Agency’s journey reflects the evolution of a business built around talent, experience and an understanding of what happens behind the scenes at events.
And as the company prepares to bring another edition of HNM Fashion Show to the runway, Recess appears to be continuing that same journey — creating opportunities for talent while building its own place within Ghana’s growing events and creative industries.
About Recess Model Agency
Recess Model Agency / Recess Hostesses and Waiters
Founder: Ruth SEFAKOR Akumiah
Locations: Accra, Cape Coast, Takoradi, Kumasi and Sunyani
Phone: 0200638464
Email: recessmodelagency@gmail.com
Instagram/TikTok: @recessmodels | @recesshostesses
HNM Fashion Show: @hnmfashionshow
For event staffing, hospitality, modelling, hosting, marketing, event planning and coordination, Recess Model Agency can be contacted directly through the details above.
