A billion reasons to LIVE

Today, Sanusi, our portrait, shares with us how he got into street hawking.

Sanusi Adamu is from Bawku in the Upper East Region. At the age of 7, he had an accident and had to leave school. While in Bawku, he was cared for by his parents. Five years ago, he moved to Accra to work for himself. He travels back once every year to visit his family.

He chose to sell shoe polish, air fresheners and key holders. “People in their cars buy air fresheners and not necessarily sweets”. That for him has more market. 

If he had the capital, he would have opened a shop. However, given his meagre funds, he decided to start small with what he had. He makes between 80 and 100 cedis every day and with that he supports his wife and child.

Sanusi, who speaks Hausa and English, explains that he used to play with the Ayawaso Amputee football team. However, due to unfavourable terms and conditions he prefers to work on his own. His colleague team players also sell, beg or make shoes. “I do not like begging and that is why I chose to sell. I like business” he stated. 

For Sanusi, there was definitely an awakening. Despite his low income he can be proud that he earned what he has.

The decision to engage in business instead of begging, speaks to the importance of a mindset shift. We cannot always rely on others but that if we put our minds to it, we can always achieve something.

Now success can be measured at different levels. He does not have a car, a house of his own but he is independent. If you pass by Opeibia traffic light in Accra and need some of the items he sells, kindly buy from him.

I learnt from his story that there are a million excuses to give up in life. Yet, there are a billion reasons more to keep showing up for your life – the breath in our lungs, our ability to still move, to express ourselves in some way, the gift of friends and family;

What did you learn from his story? And in what ways did you see yourself or the human spirit reflected in his story?