Mawufemor had a lot of regrets when he left Vivian's residence. He was perplexed as to why he had ignored the warnings. The signals indicating he was only being exploited were posted on the wall. He, on the other hand, thought it was too good to be true.
He decided to put his qualms aside and go straight to the Ho Market area in search of work. After all, he considered himself a "market-man," and that was how he had previously prospered. He made up his mind that he would do just that.
Monday around 8 p.m., he arrived at the market. The following day was market day, and as was customary, traders from nearby towns had brought their wares in that evening. At the market, there were a lot of people and vehicles, as well as a lot of goods to convey.
Mawufemor approached a wheelbarrow placed in front of a market shop and inquired whether it was available for hire, just as he had been doing in Accra. The old man owner answered no, but that if he paid a few cedis, he could use it for the night. Mawufemor reached into his pocket and pulled out a 5.00 cedis bill. He hurried off with the wheelbarrow, carrying the women's wares.
Mawufemor had learned a thing or two on the streets and in the market, and that was how to detect a business opportunity. When he saw the stranded women with their merchandise, he realized they needed help carting them, so he leapt at the chance.
That night, Mawufemor worked until 1 a.m. He demanded at least 2.00 cedis per carting. He charged more depending on the distance and weight of the load, sometimes up to 20.00 cedis. Before going to his bed, he made close to 50 trips. That evening, he discovered he had earned almost 600.00 cedis! He was so delighted that he decided to get up early the next day to continue.
He slept on a table in one of the market stalls. He awoke at 4:30 a.m. to find that his backpack, which contained the money he had earned, had vanished!
He grieved as he sat on the bare floor. He was bewildered as to why his life had always been so difficult. But, just as he was about to wallow in self-pity, two women approached him, requesting him to help them cart their goods. He sprung to his feet and dashed in for the wheelbarrow, signalling the start of the day's work.
The entire day, Mawufemor worked tirelessly on an empty stomach. He earned money but lacked the opportunity to eat. He realized he had earned 700.00 cedis by 3 p.m. He swiftly made his way to the market branch of the Ghana Commercial Bank to deposit the money he had earned to that point. Mr. Mensah had taught him this practice.
"My son, it is all but over if you save money at home. Deposit every money you earn each day, no matter how small, in the bank."
He had been practising this for some years and had garnered a substantial harvest as a result.
After completing the deposit, Mawufemor hurriedly returned to the market to resume business. He was so desperate to regain all he had lost during his last few months in Ho that he wore a steely expression.
He earned an additional 400.00 cedis before retiring for the evening. This time, he wrapped the money in a handkerchief before placing it beneath his balls in his underwear. He slept in the same location as the previous night but awoke with his money intact. How pleased he was!
Mawufemor would save at least one thousand cedis on market days and an average of five hundred cedis on non-market days over the next six months. The majority of that money was saved. Occasionally, however, a confident con artist would outwit him. For instance, by the third month, he had saved enough money to rent his own apartment. One of the elderly men at the market informed him that he could secure him a room. Mawufemor gave the elderly gentleman 4,000 cedis, and that was the last time he saw or heard from him or his money. Although he was so sad, he did not learn his lesson.
He met Vivian at the market in the fourth month of his time there. She didn't seem to be in terrific shape. After exchanging pleasantries, she revealed that she was being evicted from her home due to nonpayment of rent and that she had been diagnosed with fibroids and required immediate surgery.
She appealed to Mawufemor's conscience. He abandoned his wares and dashed to the Commercial Bank to get money for her. He paid her 5,000.00 cedis in total, hoping that she would reconsider him. She promised to refund the money in two months and to keep in contact with Mawufemor. But it was the last time Mawufemor would see his sweetheart for a long time.
Mawufemor's WASSCE results had come in, and he had passed all of the subjects he had taken. Without spending much time, he set out to learn more about the Evangelical Presbyterian University College, a higher institution he had heard so much about in the market. He had enough information on the school and chose to purchase the admission forms right away.
Mawufemor enrolled at the E.P. University College that year to study Human Resource Management and Organization Development for four years. Finally, his ambition of attending university had come true.
"Sir, so this is how I got myself educated," Mawufemor said as he concluded telling his story to the lawyer, who was now crying.
"Hey, Papa Lawyer," the In-Charge exclaimed, "don't be moved by these crooks' lies and contrived stories o! They only tell lies to manipulate your emotions. Don't fall for their deception!"
"Thank you, sir," the lawyer gently said to the police. He has never heard a narrative that emotional, spoken from the heart, in his 15 years of practice!
"Mawufemor," the lawyer said, "your story has moved me. I will do all in my power to get you justice!"
TO BE CONTINUED...
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