Elizabeth Sackey @50: Inspiring journey from Secretarial desk to world of wines, Kente

Life does not always hand you a script, but you always control how you write the next chapter.

That is the story of Mrs Elizabeth Sackey, affectionately called Liz Sackey, a woman who refused to be put in a box, trading her secretarial desk for the vibrant worlds of global wine and traditional Kente.

Her journey proves that whenever life pushes you, you can use that momentum to leap into greatness.

Born on Friday, June 11, 1976, in New Achimota, Elizabeth inherited a perfect mix of corporate strategy and perseverance.

Her father, Benjamin Ayivor, was a Marketing Officer for Ghana Airways, while her mother, Janet Ayivor, was an enterprising businesswoman. This combination of global vision and local trade ran deep in her DNA.

Her journey began at Greenhill International School, and later to Mfantsiman Girls Secondary School, Saltpond where she completed her secondary school education.

Soon after, she built her professional foundation at Dard Secretariat School in Accra New Town.

For three years, Elizabeth kept things running smoothly at a fast-paced law firm. Around this time, she also got married to Chief Eng. Daniel Nii Ayi Sackey, Head of Marine Engineering, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, with whom she has a daughter.

But Elizabeth wanted more out of life. Balancing a busy life, she went back to school which then pushed her forward into Regent University, graduating with a degree in Banking and Finance in 2009.

After her National Service in the accounts office of the Volta River Authority (VRA), she and her husband took off to travel overseas many times.

Travel changes you, and for Elizabeth, it sparked a business empire. While exploring global cities, she fell in love with how international shops organised their wines by country of origin.

When she one day stepped off the plane back in Ghana, she did not look for another desk job. Instead, she took a leap of faith and launched Wines of the World Enterprise, bringing that experience straight to Accra.

Entrepreneur by day, scholar by night. She balanced the hustle of business with rigorous study at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) to earn her Master’s in Development Management.

Her passion for heritage later pulled her into Ghana’s rich textile industry, where she successfully broke into the world of premium Kente.

“Thirteen years into my entrepreneurial journey, a simple gift of wine and family-woven Kente sparked a brand-new passion,” she discloses to The Spectator.

What started as casual curiosity grew into a deeply fulfilling venture dedicated to sharing Ghana’s rich cultural heritage with the world.

By sharing iconic, masterfully crafted designs like ‘Ewdenisiedwenisu,’ (a beautiful, and complex mix of many different patterns), Emerepa (a distinct collection of traditional structures), and the regal Obaama cloth, she is driving Ghana’s cultural tourism straight into the global spotlight.

After transforming that single baby gift into a thriving venture, she has taken Ghana’s rich heritage far beyond to local borders.

“I help people globally to choose the perfect colours for their most sacred occasions, using tradition to boost our national tourism. So far, so good,” she declares with pride.”

By introducing the vibrant art of Kente to international audiences, especially those who had admired the fabric from afar but had never actually worn it, she is proving that culture is Ghana’s greatest global asset.

Mrs Elizabeth Sackey firmly believes that if the nation heavily champions the Kente industry, it will skyrocket Ghana’s cultural tourism to incredible new heights.

“The future of Kente is bright and wide,” she states with absolute conviction. International travellers are no longer just admiring the fabric; they want to wrap themselves in it.

“Pairing an intricately designed Kente with a bold, plain Kente is the ultimate secret,” she reveals with a smile.

For her, styling clients is not just part of the job, it is a natural gift. The moment a client mentions their colour, her creative instincts take over. She freely guides people to their perfect match, ensuring that every vibrant shade shines beautifully for their special occasion without overwhelming the eye.

“Choosing the Kente is one thing, but finding the right person to sew it is an entirely different battle,” she points out.

For her, ensuring a flawless final look means going the extra mile. She frequently steps in to consult directly with fashion designers, dictating the exact style and required yard to protect the fabric’s integrity. It is a meticulous, hands-on approach born out of necessity.

Despite the immense fulfillment of her textile venture, her journey has been paved with steep hurdles to surmount.

“When the rains fall, the looms slow down and that is just the beginning of the battle,” she reveals.

She says the rainy season brings severe production delays, making bulk orders of complex designs a test of patience. Worse than the weather, however, is the threat of cultural theft. Shoddy imitators and opportunistic businessmen are stealing sacred Kente patterns like ‘Meba wo abrokyire’ (My child lives abroad) and printing them cheaply onto ordinary cloth.

Fiercely protective of Ghana’s heritage, she is calling on the government to step in, secure the borders, and legally halt the mass piracy of Ghana’s intellectual property.

Liz Sackey is a proud member of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC). She enjoys unwinding in the kitchen, cooking to the rhythm of her favourite music.

Turning 50 has only amplified her mission to inspire the next generation, sending a powerful wake-up call to the youth to stop being idle.

“The future is bright so grab the massive opportunities waiting for you and boldly venture into new fields,” she advises.

By Georgina Quaittoo