The iconic “Ghana Must Go” bag has strutted its way onto the global runway. It was once a humble travel companion seen in markets and bus stations across West Africa. Yes, the same plastic bag that carried dreams, clothes, and sometimes whole lives. The bag just made its debut at Paris Fashion Week, courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
With just a designer stamp, sleek handles, and a few luxury tweaks, the bag has been reborn. Now retailing between $595 and $3,000. They call it the heritage bag. What used to cost a few cedis at Makola Market is now being showcased as a “statement piece” on the world’s fashion stage.
But while some celebrate the global spotlight on African culture, many on social media are calling out the fashion house for cultural appropriation, using a design so deeply tied to African migration history without giving proper credit.
The debate is loud and emotional: is it appreciation, or exploitation?
One thing’s for sure the “Ghana Must Go” bag has gone places. From the dusty bus stations of Accra to the glitzy runways of Paris, it’s proof that style, no matter where it starts, always finds a way to travel.
By Emmanuella Antwi
