When Emmanuel Amoani was in Primary 4, his father—the sole breadwinner of their family—passed away, leaving his mother to raise seven children on her own despite her poor health.
Unable to manage on her own, Emmanuel and one of his brothers were sent to New Edubiase to live with their uncle, a cocoa farmer. There, they were quickly immersed in the demanding world of farming, particularly cocoa. The work was overwhelming, and the boys disliked it. Adding to their struggles, the school was several kilometers away, making attendance difficult for Emmanuel.
After a couple of years, Emmanuel moved to Quarshie. A village near Ekoso in the Eastern Region, to live with other relatives on his grandmother’s extensive land. He continued his education there.
In school, Emmanuel excelled in sports, particularly football. “I was captain of my school’s football team.” His eyes would light up when he talked about their victories. But while sports kept him engaged, his academic performance continued to suffer.
Without a father and with a sick mother, Emmanuel had to support himself. Instead of going to school, he’d take on weeding jobs. “Sometimes I’d go to school only three times a week.”
Despite these challenges, Emmanuel completed Form IV. However, in that era, formal education often ended at Form IV for most children, even the brightest. Like many of his peers, Emmanuel had to find work to survive.
After working as a farmhand for sometimes, Emmanuel eventually left Quarshie for Accra. Like many others who left the village, he was in search of better opportunities.
In the city, he worked various jobs, including as a houseboy for a relative, a security officer for a fuel business, and a garden boy maintaining the lawn in a wealthy man’s house. He even spent time as a restaurant cook, preparing dishes like fried rice, jollof rice, and banku.
After several years of hustling in Accra, Emmanuel returned to Quarshie and settled into cocoa farming. Today, he lives with his wife and three children, earning a living from cocoa and palm.
Even decades later, Emmanuel’s football skills remain well-known in Quarshie.
“If you reach Quarshie, just ask for Amoani, the short man who played football so well. Everyone knows me.”
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