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30 years of dedicated service …Adanfo the Fanmilk vendor tells his story
The old African adage that says “the mouth does not eat if the feet do not walk and the hands work” perfectly fits the case of Adanfo; the popular yoghurt seller in Accra.
Anybody who schooled in the early 90s till now or lived around the Lartebiokorshie vicinity and don’t know “Adanfo the yogurt seller,” his picture could help you recollect him.
been in business over 30 years
Growing up, Mr Samuel Kojo Boateng popularly known as “Adanfo” wanted to be a merchant but due to financial constraint his dreams did not materialise.
Few years on, not knowing which path to take, a friend introduced him to selling Fanmilk products to schools within the Korle-Bu and Laterbiokorshie areas.
Known as ‘a friend of children’ (Adanfo), he was not the only yoghurt seller in the schools or within the areas but due to his love for children and the jokes he cracked with them, they preferred to buy from him.
One of his popular things was that when a child bought ice cream from him, he would offer to cut the tip for the child. When asked why he always did that, he explained “the child’s teeth are not strong so I don’t want them to lose their teeth in the process of tearing the ice cream rubber.”
This style of Adanfo made him popular among the children as he ‘saved’ children who had lost some portions of their teeth and were contemplating how to tear an ice cream rubber after they had bought it.
When asked whether he still cut the tip of ice cream for children, he said he had stopped doing that due to COVID-19 restrictions.
This reporter having known Adanfo since her Kindergarten days was curious to know the story behind his passion for selling FanMilk products.
If it were in the formal sector, the 54 year-old would be getting ready to have access to an appreciable retirement package from his employers and the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) for his long service.
When The Spectator visited him during his working hours last week, he said, “I started selling yoghurt some years before I had my first son who is 28 years old now so it means I have been selling and dealing with FanMilk over 30 years now.”
When asked why he has spent 30 years selling yoghurt, he disclosed that, at some point within the 30 years he wished to stop and engage in another trade but could not because he realised that he had gained experience in the trade.
Indeed, one would marvel at his dedication and loyalty but he said that he could not ride the bicycle as he used to because of old age and wished that FanMilk would appreciate his loyalty and dedicated service to the company.
Family
Mr Boateng hails from Kwahu Peduase in the Eastern Region and married to Madam Margaret Agyapong who is a second hand clothes dealer at Kantamanto in Accra.
They have 3 boys namely Samuel Kwabena Boateng, who graduated from University of Cape Coast with Bsc in Economics and Geography, Solomon Kwabena who is currently pursuing Bsc in Computer Science at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi and Bright Kwabena who is also pursuing Doctor of Pharmacy at Central University, Accra.
He said that he was focused on educating his children to acquire higher education since he dropped out of school because of financial difficulties and this explained why he spent his earnings in his children’s education with the help of his supportive wife and some benevolent individuals.
He said: “it is not easy, doing this job and having children in universities is not easy but I am doing my best.”
“I want Fannilk to set up a shop for me to retail their products, I know all the rudiments of the trade and I can make more profits for them. Unfortunately, I cannot ride the bicycle any longer and my children as of now cannot support me financially too.
“Having dedicated over 30 years doing business with them, I hope that they would help me with some package because the work has sapped my strength and I would soon park my bicycle.”
By Portia Hutton-Mills
Mrs Patience Antonio, a Child and Family Development Advocate, has called for a national campaign to reduce the growing reliance on breast milk substitutes among nursing mothers in Ghana.
According to Mrs Antonio, scientific evidence shows that breastfeeding improves a child’s emotional stability, boosts intelligence, strengthens the immune system, and provides long-term health benefits. She made these remarks in an interview with The Spectator in Accra last week, emphasizing the importance of breastfeeding for a child’s overall development.
She explained that breastfeeding is not just a biological act of feeding but a key emotional and developmental bridge between mother and child. She also highlighted the need for the recommended six-month maternity leave period to ease the pressure on mothers to return to work prematurely.
“Breastfeeding creates intimacy and trust. It assures the baby of love and security, which becomes the foundation for their emotional health,” Mrs Antonio noted, warning that abandoning exclusive breastfeeding could have long-term implications on children’s social and emotional wellbeing.
Consequently, she called for a minimum of five months of fully paid maternity leave for Ghanaian mothers to enable effective breastfeeding, bonding, and healthier child development. She also urged workplaces to implement family-friendly policies, including private spaces for breastfeeding, flexible working arrangements for nursing mothers, and stronger support systems for new parents.
Mrs Antonio further encouraged families and society to actively support mothers during breastfeeding, stressing that many women struggle due to lack of assistance at home or the pressure to return to work too soon. She emphasized, “If we want a healthier, emotionally stable generation, then we must make breastfeeding a priority and support mothers to do it without stress.”
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
Spectator
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The Nanvili Community School in the Mion District of the Northern Region is facing severe infrastructural challenges, affecting teaching and learning for pupils in the area.
The school, which serves five surrounding communities with a total of 58 pupils, has deteriorated to the extent that many children have stopped attending classes. Poor classroom conditions and the lack of desks have made teaching and learning difficult. During a visit to the school, the gate-free classrooms were found filled with goat and sheep droppings.
During the rainy season, both teachers and pupils are often cut off from the school due to bad roads and flooding. Teaching activities are frequently suspended for weeks, negatively affecting academic performance.
The Assemblyman for the area, Mr. Dawuni Mutawakil, expressed concern, noting that the situation is worrying since these pupils are expected to compete with their counterparts in urban areas who have access to better facilities. He added that due to limited space, classes have been merged, with pupils from Primary One and Two, Three and Four, and Five and Six sharing the same classrooms.
The Chief of Nanvili, Abu Kassim, also appealed to the government and non-governmental organisations to come to the aid of the community. He emphasized that the current state of the school discourages children from nearby communities from attending.
Both the Chief and Assemblyman have called for urgent intervention to improve infrastructure and provide furniture for the pupils to ensure quality education for children in the Nanvili area.
By Geoffrey Buta, Nanvili, Northern Region
Spectator
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