On a special May Day edition, A1 Radio’s Day Break Upper East turned its attention to the workers powering the local economy, spotlighting the stories, struggles, and successes of artisans across the region.
Among them was Paul Azoo, a Bolgatanga-based stylist whose journey from a moment of inspiration to running a thriving business reflects the resilience and creativity driving Ghana’s informal sector.
Speaking on the May Day edition of the programme on May 1, 2026, Azoo shared how a simple experience after senior high school changed the course of his life.
“I was just watching television and saw a male stylist,” he recalled. “Immediately, I told myself, ‘I want to become a stylist.’ From that moment, everything about me changed.”
Determined to pursue that path, he travelled to southern Ghana to learn the trade. After years of training, he returned to Bolgatanga and, in September 2019, established Azoo’s Unisex Beauty College.
Today, he runs the salon while also serving as the Upper East Regional Organizer and Municipal Assistant Secretary of the Ghana Hairdressers and Beauticians Association (GHABA). Through his work, he is not only building a business but also training young people and contributing to the growth of the beauty industry in the region.
“It’s not easy, it’s very challenging,” Azoo said. “But when you love the work, you keep going. When you finish and look at what you’ve done, you feel proud.”
For Azoo, beauty goes beyond appearance. It is about transformation, confidence, and self-expression.
“When you make someone beautiful, you admire your own work,” he said. “Sometimes I just look and say, ‘Oh, I did this.’”
Inside his salon, the experience is as much about human connection as it is about styling. Laughter, conversation, and a welcoming atmosphere are central to his approach.
“Sometimes it’s the conversations that keep the place alive,” he said. “I like gist. If clients come and there’s no conversation, it feels like you are boring them.”
That atmosphere, he believes, is what keeps clients coming back.
“If you go somewhere and you are not happy, you won’t go back. But when you come here and you smile, you laugh, your worries go away, that’s why people keep coming.”
Some clients, he admits, do not even come primarily for a haircut or styling.
“I have clients who come just to sit, chat, and gist,” he said with a laugh. “Because they know when they come here, they will be happy.”
Like many artisans, Azoo faces challenges, including managing difficult clients.
“We have some very stubborn clients,” he said. “But what can you do? Customers are always right. You just have to be patient and manage them.”
Beyond the chair, his impact is felt through mentorship. He is currently training about 10 young people, including one male apprentice.
“They know what is right, but you still have to keep guiding them,” he said. “The most important thing is discipline and respect, especially for clients. If you disrespect my clients, you are destroying my business.”
Despite the challenges, he finds fulfilment in seeing his trainees grow.
“Some of them are doing very well,” he said. “Even my male apprentice sometimes amazes me with what he can do.”
To stay relevant in a fast-changing industry, Azoo embraces digital learning.
“We go online to look for trending styles,” he said. “Sometimes they show you step by step, so you learn and improve.”
Addressing perceptions about men in the beauty industry, he emphasised professionalism. “It’s a mindset,” he said. “When I’m working, it’s purely professional. I focus on the job.”
He added that his family supports his career choice. “My wife understands what I do. She knows it’s my work.”
As Ghana marked May Day, Azoo’s story stood out as a reminder that behind every service is a person, a journey, and a commitment to making others feel better. “Beauty is not just how someone looks,” he said. “It’s how they feel when they leave your shop.”
A1 Radio | 101.1MHz | Seidu Mutawakil | Bolgatanga
