Ghana’s educational system has often been criticised for being too “job seeking” centered. And that is true. It trains minds to be job seekers instead of job creators and has ended up failing too many young people because there aren’t enough jobs in town for every graduate. 

You should experience it to understand but the system is such that you need to be an “out of the box thinker” if you will really survive after school. Well, one of these “out of the box thinkers” is certainly Sandra Ala Adjetey, a Business Administration degree graduate of the former Sikkim Manipal University in Accra, now the Accra City College. 

The 27-year-old sells anklets, slippers, bags, bracelets, necklaces and waistbands she makes herself using beads on a table top at the Tema Station Market in Accra for a living.

Sandra appears convinced her future is her “own cup of tea” and not the business of any government nor multinational company nor established entrepreneur, hence the move. 

Following the completion of national service, Sandra spent months looking for a white collar salaried job but always returned home empty handed. 

If you know anything about pursuing tertiary education in Ghana, it’s not only tedious and tiresome, but could drain every youthful energy in you by the time you are handed that certificate.

So, there is nothing more annoying than “sweating your way through” a degree and having no good use for it. 

Not to talk about the huge money you invest in pursuing the programme, particularly if you schooled at a private tertiary institution like Sandra. 

Sandra did not want “regret” to be the watchword in her family when they discuss the investments that had been made into her education. She knew she had no business letting herself and her family down. 

Several months passed after national service and there was still no job opportunity in sight. It was beginning to look frustrating but Sandra knew in her spirit that giving up was not an option. 

“I actually didn’t want to waste any more time looking for work,” she told the Revolutionary Minds project. 

Then she remembered a seed her mother had sewn in her life many years ago. Not the cooking tips, not the “wake up and do the house chores talk,” not the “keep yourself and your environment clean tip,” but the training in beads handling her mum gave her.  

Inspired obviously by an underlining message you may have heard in every entrepreneurship workshop you have ever attended (commercialise your talents and skills), Sarah took the bold decision to venture into the commercial making of ornaments from beads at the beginning of this year, which is today giving her a lot of fulfillment. 

 “I said to myself why don’t I capitalise on my mother’s trade? My Mum taught me how to use beads in making all kinds of designs,” Sandra explained.

Sandra is convinced having an office job will come with a lot of “swag,” but she is proud of the opportunity to be self-employed, and earn her own daily bread without having to rely on family for support. 

“After all, I make a profit of no less than ¢500 a month just from selling at the market,” Sandra said. 

Sandra is confident that the future of her table top business is bright despite the difficult start; firm in her mind that beginnings are always small and what would usually take you to the land of milk and honey are stinging bees and dangerous, long-horned cattle. 

Sandra hopes to someday become an employer too; and pay someone else’s salary, help some other families earn their daily bread; and assist someone else to keep the dream for a good job after school alive. 

She has had to deal with a lot of stigmas, with people questioning why she has “descended the high ladder” and taken up a job selling in the market. Some ridicule and make fun of her, but she cares less. 

“Just two weeks ago, my junior at the senior high school came to see me here [market] and she exclaimed ‘Eii Sister Sandra, is that what you do for a living now?” she said. 

Now, Sandra is encouraging other young people to follow her footstep. 

“If you are unemployed [especially a graduate], then come out and do something for yourself. Start something small which will be beneficial than staying at the house,” she said. 

The lesson is clear. No one has to stay out of work because of failing government policy on employment. And no one should be jobless because another person has not created an employment opportunity. Let’s all strive to create a better tomorrow for ourselves.

The Revolutionary Minds Project wishes Sandra well every step of the way. 

 

 

Writer's note:

This article by journalist Joseph Opoku Gakpo (with files from Solomon Mensah of 3FM and editing by Nana Aba Kanga Forson of the University of Education, Winneba ) is part of a series of articles by the REVOLUTIONARY MINDS project to put the spotlight on unnoticed individuals engaged in radical stuff in their communities. 

The focus of the project is to tell the stories of people, particularly young persons, engaged in activities they would ordinarily not be doing. 

The project publishes the story of one “Revolutionary Mind” each month on www.josephopokugakpo.wordpress.com, and this website and aggressively shares the story on social media to the reach of as many people as possible. The objective of the project is to inspire all young people to do something daring and groundbreaking in their communities. 

REVOLUTIONARY MINDS…. Do Something Daring