It is a market day at Ayiopia Market in the Bongo District of Ghana’s Upper East Region. The market hums with energy as patrons from nearby communities stream in to buy fresh produce and reasonably priced livestock.
Amid the vibrant stalls and bustling crowds stands Martha Azeywo, a 40-year-old mother of six. Martha operates a modest convenience stall, offering essential household items to fellow traders and visitors.
From her small business, Martha earns a modest income—just enough to meet her family’s daily needs and save a little for unexpected emergencies. However, her work comes with challenges. Each day, she carries her products from home to the market and back if they don’t sell. The heavy lifting has taken a toll on her health, and she admits it’s becoming harder to manage as she grows older.
“I used to carry most of my products back home or leave them at a friend’s shop to pick up the next day,” Martha told A1 Radio. “When I couldn’t carry everything, I would leave some of my goods with a friend who had storage space, but I knew the risks were high trusting someone else with my stock.”
A New Chapter
Today, Martha’s story has taken a remarkable turn. She dipped into her savings to hire a craftsman to build her own storage space at the market. For Martha, this investment has been life-changing. Not only does it spare her from the physical strain of carrying goods daily, but it also gives her full control over how her items are stored, freeing her from reliance on others.
“Although I had been saving money, it never occurred to me to invest in a storage space,” she explained. “After the training, I realized I could use my savings to build a storage area, so I no longer have to carry my goods home constantly. It’s such a relief,” she shared.
The Training That Changed It All
Martha’s transformation began when she participated in a training program organized by the Widows and Orphans Movement (WOM) in partnership with the KGL Foundation.
WOM, a leading women’s rights organization in Ghana, champions the dignity and socio-economic rights of widows and orphans.
Together, the organizations launched the “Advancing Financial Inclusion and Women’s Entrepreneurship” project, a holistic initiative to enhance financial literacy and empower women in the Upper East Region. The program aims to uplift 30 women—especially widows and young women—by addressing financial education and mental well-being for sustainable economic empowerment.
At the training, Martha learned the true purpose of saving: not just to accumulate money, but to use it as a tool for investment.
She was introduced to the “Leaky Pot Model,” a metaphor for managing personal finances. “The training taught me to think of my income as water poured into a pot,” Martha explained.
“The pot represents my ability to save and grow wealth, while the holes signify expenses, wasteful spending, and inefficiencies. If the holes are too many, the water leaks out, leaving nothing for savings or investments.”
The concept encouraged Martha to identify and plug the “holes” in her finances, such as unnecessary spending and poor budgeting. She began to see saving as the foundation for achieving her goals and investing in her business. “I now understand the importance of managing money wisely, not just earning it,” she said.
Martha, a Woman on the Rise
Equipped with her newfound knowledge, Martha has expanded her business beyond household essentials to include cassava flour, a product in high demand in her community. She’s also cut down on non-essential expenses and is saving with the goal of further expansion.
“I plan to start animal rearing by the end of the year as an additional source of income,” she said proudly. “The financial literacy training gave me the tools and confidence to make these changes and pursue new opportunities. I now understand how to grow my income, invest in my business, and create new revenue streams.”
Today, Martha stands as a testament to the transformative power of education and determination. Her journey from struggling trader to a thriving entrepreneur is an inspiration to many in her community.
Source: A1Radioonline.Com | 101.1MHz | Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith | Bolgatanga
