Long before he became a celebrated gospel musician and a high-ranking police officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Kofi Sarpong was a determined teenager hustling on the streets to fund his education — one ball of kenkey at a time.
In an emotional conversation on The Career Trail on Joy Learning TV and Joy News, ACP Sarpong recounted his journey from hardship to success, opening up about how he sold kenkey during his formative years to make ends meet and avoid dropping out of school.
“There were a lot of orphans in the family that my mother had to take care of. So you could imagine, that meager salary was what she used to cater for all of us. It was difficult. I dropped out of school about three to four times because the school fees were difficult to pay,” he recounted.
He explained that, despite his mother’s efforts to support him, the burden was heavy due to the number of dependents she cared for. To change the cycle of dropping out, he made a bold decision at just 13 years old to prepare and sell kenkey.
“I decided to help myself. So I started preparing kenkey. There is no kenkey that I do not know how it’s prepared; Ga kenkey, Fante, you name it. Up to Secondary School Form 5, I used to prepare and sell kenkey because I needed to help myself,” he said.
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But the journey was far from easy. ACP Kofi Sarpong recalled moments of embarrassment and shame while selling by the roadside.
“Sometimes I would be selling at lorry parks and stations, I would meet some of my mates and decide to hide behind cars. But they would make sure they had seen that I was selling kenkey,” he shared.
He also disclosed that balancing the kenkey business with school was very challenging. He had to sell in the mornings before heading to class, which made him late almost every day, and as a result, he was often punished.
“In the morning, I had to prepare the Ga kenkey, sell to people, then wash down before joining my mates at school. I was always late and punished all the time,” he narrated.
Despite the hardships, he refused to give up. He said he could have easily chosen to stay out of school to save his family money, but he had a dream and a purpose.
“I never gave up because I had an aim. At that time, in the house, you could decide to go to school or not. Because the little that we were sharing if you decide not to go, it would help the rest. But I decided to help myself,” he stated.
His hard work paid off. The money he earned from selling kenkey helped him continue his education at Berekum Senior High School. Later, he had the opportunity to join the Ghana Police Service and worked his way up to the rank of Assistant Commissioner.
Today, he is not only a respected police officer, but also a popular gospel musician and fashion entrepreneur. Using his story as a yardstick, ACP Kofi Sarpong encouraged the youth never to let their circumstances define their future.
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“God has purpose and plans for everyone. If you are born into a rich family, thanks be to God. If you are born into a low-class family, still give thanks, because the vision you carry rests in His hands. If you depend on Him, you will realize your vision in no time. Never let your present situation weigh you down. Keep pushing. Never be despaired. Move on,” he urged.
Answering whether he plans to go into the kenkey business again someday, he laughed and said, “One should not be surprised if you hear Kofi Sarpong Kenkey House.”
