In the bustling markets of Accra, Wasila Abdullah, known for her foreign accent, stands out as a successful koko (porridge) seller. Wasila sacrificed her education to support her siblings and children.
Appearing on GhanaWeb TV’s Everyday People, Wasila shared her story with host Victoria Kyei Baffour. Once aspiring to be a lawyer, Wasila left school in her final year after becoming pregnant. She turned to selling porridge to provide for her family.
“Back when I was in school, I wanted to be a lawyer, but I got pregnant during my third year of Senior High School. That’s why I started this business; I gave up my education for my sister and children,” she said.
Wasila always had a business mindset. She explained that returning to school would distract her from her business goals. “I couldn’t continue my education because I am business-minded. I can’t concentrate in school because I would be thinking about the business and the potential earnings. That’s why I focus on selling,” she stated.
Aside from selling porridge, Wasila produces and exports koko powder. Her entrepreneurial spirit has driven her to excel in her business. “When it comes to Koko, I am capable of doing anything,” she added.
Wasila, affectionately known as ‘Koko mu PHD,’ took over the family business from her mother and aunts. As they got married, they left the business unattended. Seeing an opportunity, Wasila stepped in, rebranding and expanding the business.
“This business is for my mom; she was doing it with her sisters but at a point, they all got married. She had no one so I had to step in and take over. I used to assist her (mother) while in school. I started selling when I was between 14 and 15 years old,” she said.
Wasila’s innovative approach included introducing brown sugar, better packaging, and additional items like milk and bread. These changes led to increased sales and a growing customer base.
“I used to travel to Togo and Nigeria and buy cloth to sell but I said no, I was stressing myself so why don’t I sit here and make this thing well and rebrand it? So, I brought that idea here. My mother and her siblings were only selling the koko with sugar, groundnut, and koose. There was no packaging so I came and did all of that because the mind is broadened,” she narrated.
Looking ahead, Wasila hopes to open new branches across the Greater Accra region. Her ambition and dedication continue to drive her success in the porridge business.
Source: Ghana Web
