Kafui was born on Thursday, 1st July 1976, in Sekondi-Takoradi to Mr. Hubert Hiadzi and Mrs. Mary Theresa Hiadzi.
Being the firstborn of her parents, she was baptised into the Catholic church as Kafui Afefa. At her confirmation, the name Gloria was added to her names.
Gloria Kafui Hiadzi lived a purposeful life, one marked by service, integrity, resilience, and a steadfast dedication to excellence.
She was a proud Ghanaian whose influence extended beyond her family to shape institutions, civil society, and the private sector.
Early Life and Education
Gloria was born into a Christian family that instilled in her the values of discipline, responsibility, respect, and hard work, from an early age.
Her upbringing shaped her character and laid the foundation for the principled, dependable, and service-oriented woman she would become.
Her educational journey began at Bishop Bowers’ School in Lartebiokorshie in 1983, where she built a strong foundation for her future pursuits.
After successfully passing her Common Entrance Examination which she took while in class 5 in a bid to avoid the new JSS system that was being introduced, she advanced to Holy Child School in Cape Coast in 1988.
There, she earned her GCE O’Level Certificate and developed a strong sense of discipline, confidence, and moral grounding.
She subsequently enrolled at St. Mary’s Secondary School in Accra, where she completed her GCE A-level studies in 1995. Throughout her time there, she stood out due to her dedication and leadership qualities, which laid the groundwork for her future success.
Her passion for administration, organization, and languages led her to enrol at Alliance Française d’Accra, in 1997, where she earned a Bilingual Higher Diploma in Office Administration. This accomplishment equipped her with professional proficiency in both English and French.
Eager to broaden her academic and professional horizons, Gloria then pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics at Greenhill College (now GIMPA). She graduated in the year 2006.
Gloria did not end there, in the year 2014, she obtained a Master of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Ghana Business School, which enhanced her expertise in financial management and strategic leadership.
Still not satisfied with her academic achievements and motivated by a deep interest in governance, peacebuilding, and national development, she pursued an Executive Master’s degree in Peace, Conflict, and Security from the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre from 2023 to 2024.
Professional Life and Career Entrepreneurship and Business
Gloria built a distinguished career spanning over two decades in administration, project management, advocacy, media development, and organisational leadership.
A significant portion of her professional life was dedicated to the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA), where she served with distinction as Operations Manager from 2010 to 2013 and as Executive Secretary from 2015 till her death on the 24th of December 2025.
At GIBA, Gloria was responsible for the overall administration and strategic direction of the Association, financial oversight, project management, advocacy, grant sourcing, membership development, and stakeholder engagements.
She played key roles in capacity-building initiatives, training workshops, and advocacy efforts aimed at promoting fairness, equity, ethical media practice, and professionalism within Ghana’s media landscape.
Her career also included service with reputable organisations such as Munich Mauritius Reinsurance Company Limited (2000–2001), GESTAGUA Ghana (2001 2002), UNDP/UNOPS Enterprise Africa Project (2002–2006), British Executive Services Overseas (BESO) (2003–2007), and Rochefauld Ghana Limited (2014–2015).
In each role, she demonstrated exceptional organisational skills, professionalism, and a strong sense of responsibility, earning respect as a dependable leader and team player.
Beyond her corporate career, Gloria was an entrepreneur with a creative spirit. In 2006, she founded Kafui’s Parlour, a beauty parlour and bespoke African bead jewellery business.
Through this venture, she expressed her love for African culture, creativity, and excellence in service delivery. She took personal interest in every aspect of the business, from client relations and marketing to sourcing materials and ensuring customer satisfaction.
Service, Advocacy, and National Contribution
Gloria exhibited a deep commitment to national development, civil society engagement, and good governance.
She served in several influential roles, including Project Manager for Coalitions Against Illegal Mining, Steering Committee Member of the Right to Information (RTI) Coalition, Vice Chair of the RTI Implementation Committee, Board Member of the Office of the Registrar of Companies, and Representative Member of the Private Enterprise Federation.
Through these roles, she contributed significantly to advocacy for transparency, environmental protection, accountability, private sector development, and socio-economic growth. Her work reflected her belief in fairness, equity, and sustainable development for Ghana.
Personal Qualities and Interests
Gloria was widely admired for her character. She was known to be resilient, organised, practical, open-minded, and dependable.
She possessed a natural ability to lead while remaining approachable and supportive. She mentored many, encouraged collaboration, and remained open to learning and new ideas.
In her personal life, Gloria enjoyed reading, cooking, meeting people, socialising, exploring new environments, and engaging in sporting activities.
She loved research, meaningful conversations, and building lasting relationships. Fluent in English, French, and Ghanaian languages, she connected effortlessly with people from diverse backgrounds.
Legacy
Above all, Gloria Kafui Hiadzi lived a life of service and purpose. She consistently sought ways to add value wherever she found herself, within her family, in her profession, in business, and in national service.
Her life leaves behind a powerful legacy of dedication, leadership, compassion, and excellence.
Though she has departed this earthly life, her memory lives on in the hearts of her family, colleagues, friends, and all whose lives she touched.
She will be deeply missed and forever remembered. May her soul rest in perfect peace.
