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The Secret Lives of Hawkers: A Day in the Life on the Streets
By Jerry Accra, Ghana — At 5:30 a.m., before the city stirs to life, 17-year-old Ama Sarpong is already on the road with a basin full of boiled eggs on her head. Balancing the load with practiced ease, she walks briskly along Ring Road Central, dodging early traffic, calling out: “Eggs, hot eggs, one cedi!” By midday, she’s drenched in sweat. By nightfall, her voice is hoarse. But on a good day, she takes home ₵60. On a bad one, she returns with aching legs — and unsold eggs. “I’m the breadwinner in my family,” she says softly. “My mother is sick. My father is gone.” The Unseen Backbone of…
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Side Hustle Nation: Why Young People Are Redefining Employment
Byline: By Aisha Accra, Ghana — On a Friday night in Osu, the city pulses with energy. The restaurants are busy, the music loud, and weaving through the crowd is 26-year-old Derrick Teye, delivering shawarma orders on his motorbike. But by day, he’s not a delivery rider — he’s a graphic designer. “I work at a media firm until 5 p.m.,” he explains. “Then I switch to my side hustle to boost my income. That’s how I’m paying for my Master’s.” Derrick is one of many young Ghanaians embracing what has become a defining feature of modern youth life: the side hustle. From digital services and food delivery to shoemaking…
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From Classroom to Job Market: The Gap That Still Exists
By Nomako Cape Coast, Ghana — When 25-year-old Joseph Owusu graduated with a degree in business administration, he was filled with pride — and high hopes. “I thought I’d be in a corporate office by now,” he says, seated behind a kiosk where he currently sells airtime and soft drinks. “It’s been 18 months and not one job offer. I’ve applied to over 90 places.” Joseph’s story is all too familiar across Ghana: graduates armed with certificates, ambition, and mounting pressure — but facing a job market that doesn’t seem to need them. Despite national efforts to promote education, the pipeline between universities and employment remains broken. Experts call it…