His aspiration was to become a professional footballer, but this turned a mirage after suffering a shoulder injury.
Twenty-four-year-old Stephen Baafi Acheampong, unperturbed but resolved not to become a burden on his family after only completing his secondary education, is now making a living out of shoe washing in the Ashanti regional capital, Kumasi.
The SHS graduate is raking in profits from what some describe as a “basic home chore” to escape Ghana’s unemployment situation plaguing the youth.
With a basin of water, soap and his brush, Stephen makes a livelihood out of a chore one would deem a personal task to keep clean – shoe washing.
This has been his daily source of income after graduating with a High School certificate.
“I used to help someone sell sneakers. When the market became slow, I decided to focus on shoe washing as a business,” he recounted.
Stephen Baafi Acheampong had dreams of becoming a professional footballer, but this was truncated after suffering a shoulder injury in 2017.
In this vicissitude of life, he resolved not succumb but make the best out of his situation.
“I used to play football when I completed school. I stopped after suffering a shoulder injury. I doubt I’d be able to achieve my dreams,” he added.
As the eldest of three siblings, his mother was questioned for not allowing him focus on continuing his education to a higher level.
“People asked why I didn’t allow him further his education. Because he was obsessed with football, I couldn’t do anything about it. I am glad at what he is doing now,” his mother, Doris Amoh, said.
Stephen now plies his trade along the cramped veranda of his mother’s house at Bantama, a suburb of Kumasi.
At his mini-shoe shop, he sells these varieties of pre-owned sneakers and crocs, neatly cleaned.
“Someone has asked me to wash this for him. It’s really dirty but I will make it white,” Stephen said while portrayed his craft to his TikTok followers and the social media world.
Social media has come in as a handy advertising tool for him. Each morning, Stephen finds himself hooked on TikTok to attract more customers while he inspires others.
“There was a lady who told me she was inspired by what I do and would love for me to help her establish one in Accra,” he gladly said.
A customer explained why he’d prefer Stephen washes his shoes for him than personally doing the task.
“I like how he washes my shoes. I sometimes don’t have time to wash them. Today I brought him Airforce, Jordan and Nike sneakers. If this is the business, he wants to pursue I don’t mind supporting, so I’d always bring my shoes here,” he said.
The Ghana Statistical Service reports about 1.9 million youth in Ghana are neither in school, employed nor in training.
With this unemployment situation walloping the youth in the country, Stephen is committed to his craft despite being belittled.
“Some girls were teasing me initially. But I am not perturbed. I know what I want to achieve. I plan on expanding the business,” Stephen said.
His mother advised that: “He should be focused on what he loves. He should save the proceeds from it for the future. I may be willing to support him, but he must save some cash”.
With his gaze fixed at a happy ending, Stephen anticipates a better future from his trade while he inspires others to make enough from the little, they have.