I’m in no rush to marry— Gifty Anti

Maverick TV presenter and host of The StandPoint, Gifty Anti, says despite being single at the age of 45, she is not desperate to get married.

She told Showbiz last Tuesday that, she has found the “right man” but she is not in a hurry to settle down because the decision is not in her power.

“I don’t hate men and I’m not against marriage. Besides, it is not the woman who decides but the man. The woman can only drop hints but the final decision depends on the man and what he wants. I think I will marry when my man is ready but if not, I don’t think I’m so desperate for it.

Narrating her “ordeal” as a spinster, Gifty Anti said for the past years, she has had to endure pressure from family and close relations to get married but she has grown to accept the fact that marriage is not a competition and that she was hopeful in “God’s own time, His will will be done”.

For many young successful ladies like Gifty Anti, their quest to soar high in their respective careers is rather perceived to hinder their progress in marriage but for the CEO of GDA concepts, that is a wrong judgement since it discourages ladies from seeking greater heights in their respective fields of endeavour.

She said that is not enough reason to judge any person since one’s success could not be tied to the person’s potential of finding a man or not.

“That is what our society has turned women into. How can a lady’s success drive away the men who claim they appreciate her? Shouldn’t they rather take pride in their success?  But that is the society we live in. If you are not strong, you fall for it.

“In the past, I used to envy married couples but with years of experience, I’ve grown to admire them. I’ve come to realise that we all have a purpose in this life and it is for everyone to appreciate his/her usefulness on this earth.

“Everybody has the destiny. I know married women who have excelled and as well. I don’t think a person’s contribution to society should be weighed by the marital status,” she stated.

For her, TV may have brought her some popularity but it has been both a “blessing and a curse” since it has denied her of her privacy, one that she has had to endure for years.  Talking of her journey in television, Gifty Anti described it as “rough”.

“Why would anyone assume that I don’t deserve to discuss marriage issues on my show because I’ve never been married and don’t have a child? We sit in Ghana and praise the works of Oprah Winfrey, we even appreciate the likes of Ellen Degeneres yet we think Gifty Anti doesn’t have the moral right to talk about important issues like marriage because she has no child or is not married.

“I believe I’m on this earth to serve a purpose and even though I didn’t realise that in my life early, I’m happy I discovered it and I’m pursuing that for the good of the society. I don’t think I need to be married before impacting the society. When I die today and I  make it to heaven which is my wish, I don’t think God will judge me because I’m childless or not married. No, it will be about how I put into good use my talent and that is what I’m working at”, she said.

After 17 years as a news caster, it is just right for anyone to think that Gifty Anti will miss tthat which shot her to fame but surprisingly, when she was asked, she replied in the negative. “Sincerely, I don’t miss being on TV reading the news or hosting the Breakfast show. Probably, it’s because I’m doing what I love to do most, to seek the welfare of many young girls in desperate situation”.

As a feminist, Gifty Anti’s desire is to empower many young girls to “appreciate their worth” and that desire was translated into action when she established The Girl In Need Foundation which she said has been an “eye opener” to the plights of many young girls and also to reach out to them.

She entreated the youth to appreciate the essence of hard work and make great sacrifices since success doesn’t come in a day.

Her last words, “Plan your life so that when the opportunity presents itself, you will be ready and know your purpose in life”.