They carry their polish and brushes around in a special wooden box and have to walk for long hours to find customers.
That is the struggle of cobblers, popular known as shoe makers, in Accra. On Y’asem Nie, a segment on Dwaso Nsem dedicated to listeners, some cobblers, who ply their trade at Kokomlemle, Asylum Down and Adabraka all in Accra, shared their stories.
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The dream of 41-year-old Kofi Boateng, Kwadwo Fodjour, 39, Yaw Konadu, 38, and Yaw Adade, 37, who hail from Offinso in the Ashanti region to seek greener pasture in Accra never became a reality.
They, therefore, decided to back to their old profession, making shoes which they ditched upon return from Benin.
Life in Accra, Mr Fodjour told show host, Osei Bonsu, was a struggle after his family members he had planned to leave with disappointed him.
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The father of three said in order to feed his family he decided to start the cobbler business.
“I wandered the whole day without getting a customer. Then I pitied myself. I had no idea about the future of this job,” he bemoaned.
But, there was light at the end of the tunnel when some white men he met made him their customer.
“The white men helped me set up a place near Joy FM at Kokomlemle and it turned my life around,” Mr Fodjour said.
But, the situation was worse for 41-year-old Mr Boateng who is still looking for his messiah.
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He said on a good day, he makes GH¢30.00 which he said is woefully inadequate to cater for his wife and three children.
On whether he saves money, Mr Boateng said it used to be easy to save money but now, money loses its value so quickly “I just can’t save as much anymore.”
The dilemma of Messrs Konadu and Adade is how to raise enough money and send back home.
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Both fathers fear the future of their children are at risk as they can barely raise GH¢50.00 a day to support their education.
The four brothers have rented a makeshift kiosk to enable them save enough to support the family back home at Offinso.
The wish is for the government to set up a shoe making factory and employ them to enable them get permanent income.
Source: Ghana | Adomonline.com | Adwoa Gyasiwaa Agyeman