Diaspora | Updated July 22, 2025

Linda Yaa Ampah: The Fashion Powerhouse Transforming Lives in Ghana

Linda Yaa Ampah’s journey is a powerful testament to resilience, creativity, and the relentless pursuit of women’s empowerment in Africa’s fashion industry.

Born and raised in Ghana, Linda’s childhood was marked by hardship. After losing her mother as a teenager, she was left to raise her four-year-old sister alone. But from these struggles emerged her unwavering determination to build a better future not just for herself, but for countless women across Ghana.

Today, Linda is the founder and CEO of Cadling Fashions and KAD Manufacturing Limited. Through Cadling Fashions, she has established a top-tier fashion house designing garments for local and international clients. With KAD Manufacturing, she scaled her impact, producing large-scale garments for global brands like Anthropologie and Brooklyn Industries. Her designs have even been worn by former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama, cementing her brand’s place on the world stage.

But Linda’s mission goes far beyond fashion.

Through KAD Manufacturing, she is transforming lives, providing training in sewing and life skills to unemployed and vulnerable women – many of whom were homeless. Her initiative offers them housing during their training. Within a year, these women gain financial independence and secure their own accommodations, breaking cycles of poverty with dignity and skills.

Linda’s leadership is recognised across Ghana and beyond. She is the:

  • Vice-President of the Stanford SEED Network Ghana Chapter

  • A leader within the Association of Garment and Apparel Manufacturers of Ghana (AGAM)

  • Former resident judge on “Ghana’s Most Beautiful,” where she championed culture and creativity on national TV.

She is also the author of “Pieces of the Portrait: An Autobiography,” where she bravely shares her life story, survival strategies.

Why Linda’s Story Matters:

Linda Yaa Ampah is not just building a fashion empire – she is weaving hope, strength, and economic freedom into the fabric of Ghana’s society, proving that true success is measured by how many lives you uplift along the way.