Stories of Hope: Nigerian migrant braves the odds, making his business an empire in Ghana | AM News
AM News with Benjamin Akakpo on JoyNews (31-10-23)
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Transcript
00:00 Let's settle for the news now and in our first story, when his quest to find a job
00:05 in Ghana failed, Abiola Tohib Abiodun didn't allow that to weigh him down.
00:11 He's been doing a lot of handiwork since he didn't become a burden on anyone.
00:17 Hano Dami narrates Abiola's story in today's series of hope.
00:25 I sell chacha, earpiece, cover, protector, acet, different kind of accessories.
00:32 Abiola Tohib Abiodun is a father of three.
00:37 He's been pushing this cart for over five years.
00:40 He didn't start the business this way though.
00:43 I didn't know anything about the business.
00:45 It was some of my friends that introduced me to the business.
00:49 I started with how much?
00:50 I started with 100 CD at that time.
00:52 I started with small earpiece and chacha.
00:58 That time I used to carry around.
00:59 But I thank God today that everything is my own, it's my business.
01:03 So every day I go out, at least I'm making something out of it.
01:07 So I have joy with what I'm doing.
01:10 An origin of Abiodun in the Oyo State of Nigeria, the Polytechnic graduate narrates why he migrated
01:18 to Ghana.
01:19 I just came here to Ozu, at least as a man.
01:22 The world has become a global village.
01:25 If you are in somewhere and you don't have peace or you see how the situation of the
01:29 place are going, you need to move as a man.
01:32 That's why I came here.
01:36 When his quest to find a job as an aluminium fabricator in Ghana did not materialize, Abiodun
01:43 found selling phone accessories as the best option to survive out.
01:48 My plan is that if I apply for a company to continue the aluminium work.
01:55 So as I came here I applied for some companies, so they didn't take me.
01:59 So that's why I started this one.
02:01 Narrating his daily routine, Abiodun was hopeful he will soon open his own shop.
02:07 Sometimes I close around 11.30 in the night.
02:11 So I go to the market maybe sometimes around 2.00, 2.30.
02:17 That's how I start.
02:18 I can continue with this forever because this one is a business.
02:23 For a year or two if I get a job, I'm planning to rent a shop for a new town.
02:27 If I get a shop, I will make it in a big way and I'll start from there.
02:31 Guided by his philosophy of life, Abiodun says he's not for once regretted any step
02:37 that he's taken in ensuring his wife and children are well taken care of.
02:42 I'm not afraid of disappointment.
02:43 Because as a man, you need to be growing every day.
02:47 So as I started this one, I'm happy that I get something that I'm doing here.
02:53 So as I started from that, I never regret for one day.
02:57 Because I thank God I started this one at that time and this business has helped me
03:01 a lot.
03:02 It helped me a lot at that time.
03:04 So gradually, now I get what I say.
03:08 Just sometimes I just move around small and I park for the day and sell.
03:12 In the evening time I go close.
03:14 And he does well to spend the money from his hustle with his family.
03:17 I make them happy.
03:18 Sometimes if I close, I'm going out.
03:19 I used to buy something for them.
03:20 Sometimes we go to Labadi Beach, sometimes if I get money, sometimes we go to Bola Beach.
03:21 Sometimes I take them to Madina for the airport side.
03:22 So sometimes we used to go out like that to go and enjoy ourselves.
03:35 Abiodun believes self-determination should be embraced by the youth, most especially
03:40 as they pursue their goals in life.
03:43 As a man or woman, you need to hustle for yourself.
03:47 And the thing I see for it is that you need to believe in yourself, whatever you are doing.
03:53 You need to continue doing what you know to do more.
03:58 Because the time I started is been tough.
04:01 The time I started is very tough somehow.
04:04 But I continue to struggle.
04:07 Sometimes it will be bad somehow, but I continue.
04:11 But the thing I believe is that one day God will help me.
04:13 But now he helped me because I thank God that I have something that I'm doing.
04:16 If you come here, you can't just be roaming about.
04:20 You need to find something to do.
04:21 I say, man, don't follow people.
04:23 Because the time I came here, I saw many people, they are doing another thing.
04:27 But for my mind, I make my mind say I won't put my hand for any bad thing.
04:32 So I just face what I'm doing.
04:34 So this is where I am today.
04:36 Abiodun go back to settle in Nigeria.
04:38 The aluminum work is my handwork, what I learned is good.
04:42 But this one too is a business.
04:45 I still learn this one.
04:46 Because even if I leave this one, I go back, I can still start this business for Nigeria.
04:51 So it's like I had another, I see another opportunity.
04:55 If I don't want to do the aluminum work again, I have another thing that I believe I can
04:58 still do.
04:59 >>Hannah Adame for JOY News.
05:18 >>Let's talk politics now.
05:20 And the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the governing new patriotic party, Bernard Mchibwe Siakwo,
05:25 has announced that chiefs and chairmen from all constituencies in the Ashanti region have
05:28 pledged their support for Vice President Dr. Mahmoud Thaumia.
05:32 He says these chiefs and chairmen have committed to covering all associated costs, including
05:37 transportation and meals for the delegates attending the Congress as a gesture of their
05:42 support for him.
05:44 Samuel Mbura of our political desk has more in this report.
05:47 >>Vice President Dr. Mahmoud Thaumia receives a rousing welcome during his rally in his
05:53 home region, North East region, where the crowd included chiefs, imams, and influential
05:57 community leaders.
05:58 In his address, Dr. Thaumia compared himself to a star striker of a World Cup winning team,
06:05 emphasizing that the 2024 general elections require someone of his caliber to build on
06:09 the NPP's achievements.
06:10 >>The 2024 election is like a World Cup final between the NPP and NDC.
06:21 When you are going for such competitions, you will need a striker that can score goals
06:30 for the team.
06:37 So if the NPP wants to break the grid, a striker like Dr. Mahmoud Thaumia is needed.
06:45 Ashanti regional chairman Wuntu Mbe expressed unwavering support for Dr. Thaumia's candidacy,
06:50 stating that all constituencies in the region are firmly behind him and promising a significant
06:55 vote in the November Congress.
06:58 >>We have appetite.
06:59 We have the appetite.
07:02 We have more money.
07:04 We have some luck.
07:06 We want to show some luck to NPP.
07:07 We want to show some luck to Dr. Mahmoud Thaumia.
07:08 We want to show some luck and send a signal to NDC.
07:09 We want to show some luck to Dr. Mahmoud Thaumia.
07:10 We want to show some luck and send a signal to NDP.
07:11 We want to show some luck to Dr. Mahmoud Thaumia.
07:12 We want to show some luck and send a signal to NDP.
07:13 We want to show some luck to Dr. Mahmoud Thaumia.
07:14 We want to show some luck and send a signal to NDP.
07:15 We want to show some luck and send a signal to NDC.
07:22 So, Assam region, we are taking all the cost of the election of November 4th.
07:28 >>Deputy Majority Chief Whip Habib Idris and Hassan Tampoli, MP for Gusego, confirmed that
07:34 all northern MPs are endorsing the vice president.
07:37 >>Just like Chairman is daring us, I want to assure you, Assam regional governor, that
07:44 we in the north, and I'm talking about northern region, northeast region, Sabana region, upper
07:50 east and upper west, we have taken up the bill for his excellency, the vice president
07:56 of the Republic of Kenya.
07:57 >>Additionally, northeast regional chairman of the NDP, Nuri Dufusena, assured a repeat
08:02 of the 100% vote for Dr. Thaumia as seen in the superdelegates' congress.
08:06 >>Northeast region, if there was to be 100 and plus percent in election, northeast region
08:13 would have give the vice president 100 plus election.
08:17 So, we are ready for the 4th, and 4th is going to be a day of difference between all the
08:26 region.
08:27 Since we are fair, we always be fair.
08:30 >>Furthermore, some delegates in the northeast region emphasized that their support for Dr.
08:34 Mahmoud Bamiya transcends tribal lines.
08:37 >>Without the vice president, we can't break the 8th.
08:40 Yeah, without him, we can't break the 8th, because he has the political experience that
08:46 the NDC knows that if we let him lead our party, they know that we'll break the 8th,
08:54 actually.
08:55 >>Yes, to me, he is the right person because looking at things, he is somebody who is known
09:03 all over the country.
09:06 He does his work diligently, he has the patience, he has the passion.
09:11 He is somebody whom we can't even rely on.
09:16 >>Breaking the 8th is what the NDP is up to.
09:20 We need somebody that is experienced.
09:24 We need somebody that has a national character.
09:28 We need somebody that is a unifier.
09:33 >>The flag-bearer elections of the governing NDP has hit a home stretch.
09:38 Expectations are that Dr. Mahmoud Bamiya will win the elections.
09:42 However, the margin is not known yet.
09:45 But a recent survey suggests that he is going to win over 80 percent on November 4.
09:53 Reporting from the high streets of Walwale in the northeast region, hometown of Vice
09:58 President Dr. Mahmoud Bamiya, Samuel Mbura, JOY News.
10:02 >>Well, that was a sneak peek of what you can expect.
10:09 And of course, we're bringing you all the details right before election on November
10:15 4.
10:16 We're going to be bringing you all the scoop in our election headquarters.
10:19 But on to our next story.
10:21 The managing director of the Lema Press, one of Ghana's leading printing presses, Zinadassa,
10:26 wants government to create an enabling environment for small businesses to thrive.
10:30 According to him, government needs to make available funding and incentives to startups
10:35 and existing businesses to cushion them to grow and also encourage industry players to
10:40 invest more.
10:41 He spoke with the national chief imam paid a curtsy call on the company.
10:46 >>That is not only Ghana government here.
10:48 There's a big challenge in Africa in general.
10:53 You will not see any specific policies which encourage various industries.
10:58 You go to Burkina Faso, you go to Kodwa, you go to Mali, they will read their budgets.
11:02 You will not see any incentive for any industry which encourages players in the industry to
11:09 invest more.
11:10 That's one of the challenges we're facing.
11:11 All we are interested in is that we give incentive to those who come and invest in the industry.
11:17 Let's say someone in Ghana who is coming to invest here, he comes here, government give
11:22 him incentive, you can bring your own material, free, your equipment, everything is free.
11:27 They have incentive.
11:28 And the people already in the industry, there's nothing like incentive to them.
11:33 Meaning that the old players are there, new players come with all the incentive.
11:36 It makes competition unfair.
11:40 So that is one of the major problems.
11:41 Unlike other countries, even when you reinvest part of your profit, you get incentives.
11:48 The challenge here is that it's investment.
11:51 We must invest and then government should support in getting the fund for investment.
11:56 It is very, very difficult.
11:57 When you look at the economy where the currency is fluctuating and other stuff, there's no
12:01 stability.
12:02 It makes it very difficult to invest.
12:04 And we need to have incentive.
12:05 The more you employ, you have incentive.
12:06 The more you reinvest into the business, you have incentive.
12:10 The more you innovate through technology, you have incentive.
12:14 These are things which are very, very important.
12:22 Now the Public Utility Regulatory Commission has educated students of the Tamale College
12:27 of Education on its tariff regime and processes.
12:31 Authorities also responded to issues bordering on service delivery, illegal connections,
12:36 among others.
12:37 The aim of the forum was to help the students understand the tariff process and how they
12:43 can contribute in reducing waste and consumption among others.
12:48 Speaking at the forum, the Executive Director of the PURC, Dr. Ishmael Aka, explained how
12:55 the PURC arrives at its tariff decision.
12:59 The utilities, water regulatory team, the GRICO, NERCO, and ISE.
13:06 That over the next three years, how much do you need in terms of investment, operations?
13:17 Human capital, your staff, maintenance, even some loans you are going to take, that cost,
13:25 how much do you need to perform all these functions?
13:30 So they put a proposal together and submitted to PURC that this is how much we need and
13:37 we're broken it down to this.
13:39 We have five employees, we pay them this, we have this number of chains, we do all those
13:45 things.
13:46 That is done.
13:47 PURC checks.
13:48 And there's a rule, we call it the useful and used concept.
13:57 All the things you've listed, are you going to use all those things to satisfy the customer?
14:05 So for instance, if NERCO has a hospital and they put the pay of the nurses and doctors
14:14 at that hospital in the proposal, who take them out?
14:19 If a worker at the hospital goes to work for NERCO, does it affect the electricity you get?
14:24 The students ask questions ranging from meter acquisition to the payment of bills, service
14:31 provision, and illegal connection.
14:33 In particular, the worrying development within the NERCO region, and it has to do with the
14:38 service providers.
14:39 I believe sometimes their emotions overrides their professionalism.
14:45 In the sense that we've had instances where, for example in VT, some individuals were leading
14:52 illegal connections.
14:54 So in instances like that, I believe from what I see, if the service provider had that kind
15:01 of encounter with them, they should deal with the specific individuals.
15:06 But they shouldn't punish the entire community.
15:09 When a question was asked why service providers do not punish individuals who engage in illegal
15:16 connection by the entire community, the Director of Regional Operations and Consumer Services,
15:22 Aladji Jabaru Abubakaru, said sometimes it is for the safety of the people.
15:29 But what happened in Kobulamagu was for them to have been out for a very long time was
15:36 a direct hit from the PUAs.
15:39 And there was a reason for that.
15:41 I want to take this opportunity to let us appreciate some of these concerns.
15:45 Immediately there is interference in the network of the utility.
15:49 Safety comes in.
15:51 You as a user might guess that the fact that someone has done illegal connection, that
15:57 is it.
15:59 If they get that person off that, they have to patrol the line.
16:02 In the case of Kobulamagu, there was some sort of aggression between the parties.
16:07 And the network couldn't patrol the line.
16:09 So if they don't patrol the line and they put in bad power, there is likely people who
16:15 might lose their houses.
16:17 In our next story, the leadership of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is encouraging its well-to-do
16:25 members to reach out to the poor in the church.
16:28 President of the South Central Ghana Conference, Pastor Dr. Samuel Mpumensa, who made the appeal,
16:34 said some of the church members who lived below the poverty line required the support
16:39 of wealthy men in the church for survival.
16:42 The appeal comes as a businessman and philanthropist, Isaac Owusu, single-handedly built a church
16:47 for the local Homa Benassi Seventh-day Adventist Church.
16:51 Mohaming Teria has more in the following report.
16:54 A giant, imposing and magnificent edifice on the outskirts of the Homa Benassi farming
17:00 community welcomes visitors to the community.
17:03 The benefactor, a businessman and native of Ofensu says he was touched by the plight of
17:09 the local Seventh-day Adventist Church.
17:11 Isaac Owusu says he was in the community in 2020 to worship with the local congregants,
17:17 only to be told they could not use the local basic school for church activities.
17:22 The district assembly ordered the closure of the school to all public activities, denying
17:28 the congregation a place of worship.
17:31 Mr. Owusu intervened with the construction of the new church.
17:35 He has also registered over 2,000 residents onto the National Health Insurance Scheme,
17:43 donated cloth and soap to over 1,000 members of the community, and promised to build a
17:49 garage processing factory for the local cassava farmers.
17:53 He has also promised to extend the gesture to yet to be named community.
17:58 I have to thank God for giving us life.
18:00 I think barely three years ago I came to the church, the Homa Benassi church, and because
18:05 of the COVID they were not worshipping in the classroom again.
18:09 So that day it rained and when I came there was no church.
18:13 So that touched me and I said well let me put up something for the entire community
18:18 so that they can worship in.
18:20 So by the grace of God I think we have done this for them to worship in and I think it's good.
18:26 We did National Health Insurance for 2,000 people and then the old people here, we donated
18:32 some clothes and then soaps for them.
18:35 Now I'm planning on opening a small factory, that's a garage factory.
18:39 I've seen that the people here, they do farming.
18:42 So the cassavas and those things, they bring it and then we process it to the garage.
18:46 And then the MP, fortunately the MP too is a First H.S. minister.
18:50 So they can supply the garage to the ministry so that they also get something to ease their
18:55 life and then to help.
18:57 Education Minister and MP for Bosumchi, Dr. Yaw Osei Educhun, who witnessed the commissioning
19:03 of the church, is touched by the works of Mr. Isaac Owusu.
19:07 According to him, the government recognizes such benevolence and private participation
19:13 in national development.
19:15 I want to first thank God for making us see today.
19:20 The second gratitude goes to Elder Isaac Owusu for allowing God to use him to bless others.
19:26 He is the reason why we are all gathered here today.
19:29 The government does recognize his generosity and benevolence.
19:33 I am super excited today.
19:35 Meanwhile, the leadership of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is encouraging its well-to-do
19:43 members to reach out to the poor.
19:46 Pastor Dr. Samuel Njimensa is president of the South Central Ghana Conference.
19:51 We feel excited and then we are so happy that by the grace of God at this time, God in his
19:59 own wisdom can touch one of us hearts so that we can come together and mobilize some resources
20:06 to put up this gargantuan edifice.
20:09 It is not something that normally happens in our church in the sense that most of the
20:14 members have money, they have in abundance, but they have not been into that line that
20:21 going for putting up church building for that matter for others.
20:26 And so we want to take this opportunity and thank our Elder Isaac Owusu and the family
20:33 who want to take this time to appeal to our members, those among us who God has blessed,
20:39 that they should also be in a position to help our smaller churches.
20:44 From Kumasi, for JOY News, I'm Eteri Aku.
20:48 And that's how we cap off the news this morning, but stay with us up next, the News Review.
20:54 We'll be right back.
20:55 [Music]