Empress Ghadafi, a Ghanaian musician and fashion entrepreneur, is challenging her compatriots to rethink the exodus of talent abroad, drawing from her own quarter-century experience in Canada to argue that true fulfillment lies in building—not leaving—Ghana.
The artist, who returned to Accra in 2023 after decades in Toronto, described her overseas journey as a lesson in “disconnection,” despite financial stability. “We chase foreign dreams, only to lose ourselves in systems that don’t value our roots,” she said in an interview. Her critique targets a pervasive mindset in Ghana, where migration is often seen as a default path to prosperity. Data from the World Bank shows remittances to Ghana hit $4.7 billion in 2022, underscoring the diaspora’s economic role—yet Ghadafi insists wealth alone can’t replace cultural identity.
She contrasted Ghana’s emphasis on generational legacy—where homeownership is a common ambition—with Canada’s rental-dominated housing market. “Abroad, you’re building someone else’s equity. Here, you’re planting a tree whose shade your grandchildren will enjoy,” she said, reflecting on Ghana’s tangible, if slower, wealth creation.
Her return was also fueled by concerns over cultural assimilation. Ghadafi, a mother, cited Western debates on gender and social issues as “clashes” with her values. “I didn’t want my children learning pride in another culture while forgetting their own,” she said, echoing tensions faced by African diaspora communities globally.
Now back in Ghana, she’s leveraging her platform to advocate for local investment, particularly in real estate and creative industries. “We have the resources. Why outsource our potential?” she argued, pointing to Accra’s booming tech hubs and fashion scene as proof of homegrown opportunity. Her stance aligns with Ghana’s push to attract diaspora capital through initiatives like the “Year of Return,” though skeptics note persistent challenges like inflation and unemployment.
Ghadafi’s revival of her music career—marked by her new single Poison and the genre-blending “Hipjazz”—serves as both a creative reboot and a metaphor for renewal. “Art isn’t just sound; it’s a mirror for societal change,” she said, referencing lyrics that critique complacency.
While her message resonates with a growing cohort of returnees, systemic hurdles remain. Ghana’s economy, though stable, faces a debt crisis and currency volatility, factors that continue to drive migration. Yet Ghadafi remains defiant: “Every brick laid here is a foundation for the next generation. Abroad, you’re just another tenant.”
The question now is whether her call can shift a deeply ingrained narrative—or if “greener pastures” abroad will keep luring Ghana’s ambitious youth.
Stream Empress Ghadafi’s “Poison” on major platforms.
