Go global but don’t lose your roots —Neenyi Ghartey to young Creatives

THE Paramount Chief of the Effutu Traditional Area, Neenyi Ghartey VII, has urged Ghana’s young creatives to embrace global opportunities without sacrificing traditional values on the altar of modern fame.

The Chief has observed with concern that the glossy appeal of foreign lifestyles, often exaggerated and amplified on social media, is pushing many young people to abandon their rich heritage for a shallow imitation of another culture.

Speaking to Graphic Showbiz exclusively on the sideline of the 30th anniversary of his enstoolment and a fundraising lunch at the he Jophus Anamuah-Mensah Conference Centre-UEW on Saturday, January 24, the traditional ruler, who is also the Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba, said Ghana’s expanding footprint in music, fashion, film and digital content should be anchored in culture, not imitation.

“You can go global without losing your roots. Our traditions are not limitations; they are strengths. The world does not celebrate copies; it celebrates originality.

“Be bold. Be modern. Dream beyond our borders, but remain rooted. You can be global without losing who you are,” he stated.

Neenyi Ghartey VII also noted that while the digital age had opened doors for young people, it had also created a silent struggle between modern influence and cultural identity.

“Social media is not the enemy. The danger is when our youth begin to admire everything foreign and see their own culture as outdated. Culture must evolve, but it must not disappear,” he said.

The paramount chief stressed that Ghana’s entertainment industry remained one of the most powerful tools for cultural preservation.

“Our musicians, filmmakers, fashion designers and content creators are today’s cultural historians. Through their work, they document who we are, what we believe in and where we come from,” he said.