Ghanaian broadcaster and lawyer Serwaa Amihere has advised young people to stop rushing to acquire expensive designer items and avoid buying counterfeit versions of popular brands simply to create an impression of wealth.
Speaking at The Complete Ignite Woman conference, Serwaa encouraged the women present to remain patient and work towards their financial goals rather than feel pressured to wear expensive clothes, shoes and bags they cannot yet afford.
According to her, the things people admire and wish they could afford today may become easily accessible to them in the future as their financial circumstances improve.
She urged young women to concentrate on building themselves and their finances instead of trying to compete with people who may be in a better position to afford luxury items.
“Don’t rush it,” she advised, explaining that there was no need for anyone to put unnecessary pressure on themselves to match the appearance of others.
To drive her point home, Serwaa Amihere shared an experience from her younger days when she and her sister would wake up early to visit Kantamanto Market in Accra in search of fashionable clothes and bags.
She explained that although they could not afford some of the expensive items they admired at the time, they still managed to find beautiful alternatives that allowed them to dress well.
According to the broadcaster, their financial circumstances have since improved, allowing them to afford many of the things they once wished they could buy.
She used the experience to encourage young women not to become discouraged by their current financial situations, stressing that patience and personal growth could eventually put their dream purchases within reach.
“Many years ago, I couldn’t afford to buy this shoe and you are here and saying, ‘Oh, this dress is nice, next year at Ignite, I want to wear the white that person A wore.’
“Let me tell you, in a few years even these dresses we are wearing will be very cheap for you and you will want to buy a more expensive one,” she stated.
Her message was that people should not allow the desire to impress others to push them into spending beyond their means.
Serwaa also cautioned young people against purchasing counterfeit luxury goods to give others the impression that they own expensive designer products.
She argued that carrying a fake version of a prestigious brand could create an unintended impression, particularly when the person holding it does not appear to understand the product or is deliberately trying to mislead others about its authenticity.
Using a hypothetical workplace scenario, she explained that someone carrying a counterfeit Birkin bag into an office might leave colleagues questioning whether the person understands the brand or is attempting to pass off a fake as an original.
