Assistant Commissioner of Police and gospel musician, ACP Kofi Sarpong, has shared the struggles he faced while growing up, revealing that he sold kenkey to fund his education.
Speaking on The Career Trail on Joy Learning TV and Joy News, ACP Sarpong recounted how poverty forced him to drop out of school multiple times.
He said his mother, who supported a household full of orphans on a meager salary, simply couldn’t afford his school fees.
“There were a lot of orphans in the family that my mother had to care for. I dropped out of school about three to four times because the school fees were difficult to pay,” he said.
Determined to break the cycle, 13-year-old Kofi made a bold decision, he started preparing and selling kenkey to support himself.
“I decided to help myself. Up to Secondary School Form 5, I was selling kenkey, Ga kenkey, Fante kenkey, you name it,” he recounted.
However, the journey wasn’t easy. He often faced embarrassment while selling at lorry parks and bus stations. Sometimes, he would hide behind cars when he saw his schoolmates.
Balancing school and business was also a major challenge. He had to sell in the mornings, which made him late for school almost daily, leading to frequent punishment.
“In the morning, I had to prepare and sell kenkey before rushing to school. I was always late and got punished,” he said.
Despite these challenges, ACP Sarpong never gave up. He could have stayed out of school to ease his family’s financial burden, but he chose to persevere.
“I had a dream,” he said. “I wanted more for myself, so I kept going.”
His hard work eventually paid off. He continued his education at Berekum Senior High School, later joined the Ghana Police Service, and rose to the rank of Assistant Commissioner. Today, he is also a successful gospel artist and fashion entrepreneur.
Encouraging the youth, he said, “Never let your present situation weigh you down. God has a purpose for everyone. Keep pushing. Never despair. Move on.”
Asked if he would ever return to selling kenkey, he laughed and replied, “Don’t be surprised if you hear of Kofi Sarpong Kenkey House.
