Hot!
Combining barbering and music as business …the story of Elizabeth Amponsah
Young Elizabeth Amponsah was ambitious while in secondary school but had to reconsider her options because her plans took a different turn.
She had to quit Adonten Senior High School in her final year in 2009 due to financial constraints. Her effort to attend remedial school was also challenged as she lacked the needed financial and family support to see it through.
In order not to waste her talent, she decided to venture into barbering to survive. With years of practice and consistency, she has mastered the craft and continues to attract patrons who admire and encourage her to keep doing what she does best.
Background
Elizbeth crops top artists including Yaw Berk 
Elizabeth on duty 
Elizabeth hails from Boti in the Yilo Krobo Municipality of the Eastern Region Eastern. Her father is a retired public servant; her mother a petty trader. She had basic education at Boti Roman Catholic School before entering Adonten Senior Secondary School, at Aburi.
“Dropping out of school was unfortunate because I really loved to be in school and I actively took part in a lot of activities.
“When I was in school, I was able to use the blade and the barbering machine to shave my seniors and juniors and I used to do braids for other colleagues as well,” the 29-year-old told The Spectator, recounting how she found herself in a male dominated profession.
Having learnt the rudiments of barbering in school, she relocated to Koforidua to polish her skill under the apprenticeship of a male barber, without her family knowing about it.
“The barber was impressed that I was the first female to approach him so he taught me everything I was supposed to know and in three months I was perfect using the machine and people started noticing me,” she recalled.
Starting off at this barber’s shop, Elizabeth’s honesty and hardwork eventually paid off when the owner of the shop handed it over to her to operate on full-time basis. Pregnancy, however, set in after she had worked for two and half years.
“I had to quit the job to take care of my child but I soon had another job offer when my baby was five months old. I had no choice but to move to Accra,” she said.
Life in Accra was not as easy as she thought yet she managed to start working at a barber’s shop at Kwabenya and later a mini spa at Ashongman where she was offered free accommodation.
“I learnt a lot while working here though the income was not enough. I learnt how to do dreadlocks, pedicure, body massage, among others.
“After working for a while, I moved to Osu to look for other opportunities, until I found Classic Barbering Shop where I have been working for the past one and half years,” she said.
Experience
Elizabeth says she receives lots of compliment from individuals and prominent figures who come for grooming at the shop.
She uses her social media Instagram page to highlight her works and says the positive feedback from clients encourages her to keep doing more.
The industrious female barber who has passion for music, mentions musician Fameye, Jupiter, Guru and Ras Kuuku as some of the top artistes who continue to patronise her barbering and grooming services.
As a female in a male dominated profession, she has admitted the “unfriendly advances” of some male clients but says she often tries to maintain a “professional distance” at all times.
“This job gives me lots of exposure and I often meet single men and married men and some try to sway me with money but I have advised myself not to fall victim again,” she said.
She noted her family now accepts what she does and are willing to provide the needed support as she aims to establish her own multipurpose grooming shop in future.
Music
Elizabeth looks forward to combining barbering and music as a lifetime business, tour the world with her music and train other young girls when she is fully established.
She has a soft spot for Dancehall Artiste, Shatta Wale, and says she would provide free grooming services for him when the opportunity comes.
The budding musician said she had started singing and recording highlife music but had to abandon it after battling a life-threatening illness. Nonetheless, she still wants to collaborate with other musicians to release a hit album or single and also own a recording studio in future.
Elizabeth has seven other siblings and is a member of the Assemblies of God Church. Using her life as an example, she encourages teenage mothers to live responsible lives, take good advice from elders, pursue their ambition and never be discouraged in life.
“You still have life and opportunity to do something even if you drop out of school or give birth at a young age. I gave birth early but I did not give up,” she said.
By Ernest Nutsugah & Priscilla Efriyie Ankapong
Hot!
Health Minister leads delegation Mimi Darko’s appointment as AMA Director General
Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Minister for Health and Member of Parliament has led a delegation to secure the appointment of Dr Delese Mimi Darko, Chief Executive Officer of the Food and Drugs Authority, as the Director General of the African Medicines Agency (AMA) during the ongoing 2nd Ordinary Session of the Conference of State Parties in Kigali, Rwanda.
This prestigious appointment, achieved through a competitive process, marks a proud and historic moment for Ghana and the entire continent.
It highlights Dr. Darko’s exceptional leadership, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to enhancing public health and regulatory systems across Africa.
The Minister expressed his deep appreciation to President John Dramani Mahama for his strong support and leadership throughout this process.
Mr.Akandoh congratulated Dr. Mimi Darko and Team Ghana for their incredibly successful campaign.
The AMA was established by the African Union on November 5, 2021, with the primary objective of improving access to quality, safe, and effective medical products throughout the continent. Its creation aims to facilitate the regulation and oversight of essential medicines at a continental level while promoting collaboration among African countries and regions.
The Agency’s mission is to provide leadership in creating an enabling regulatory environment for the pharmaceutical sector in Africa, ensuring that the African population has access to essential medical products and technologies.
Hot!
Police arrest five suspects involved in robbery cases in Ashanti Region
The Police Intelligence Directorate (PID) in the Ashanti Region has informed the public about a recent breakthrough in the fight against armed robbery in the Denchemuoso District.
Following a series of robbery incidents in the area, on April 22, 2025, PID/Ashanti operatives, acting on credible intelligence, apprehended one Michael Owusu Ansah, alias Baby Last, aged 32.
The suspect had been on the police wanted list since 2016 in connection with a robbery and the murder of Police Officer G/Cpl Frank Essel of SWAT/Ashanti, which occurred at the Open Space Hotel in Denchemuoso on May 19, 2016.
During interrogation, the suspect confessed to engaging in multiple street and residential robberies in Denchemuoso, Atwima-Techiman, Asuoyeboah, and surrounding areas.
He also disclosed that his gang operated with knives, pistols, and pump-action guns.
Further investigations led to the identification and arrest of his accomplices, namely:Emmanuel Owusu, alias Cassidy, Maxwell Gyimah, alias Nana Kwame, Sudais Oxford Ntiamoah, alias The Man Sudais and Rhano Okyere, alias Demon
These individuals were arrested from their hideouts within Atwima-Techiman and Denchemuoso.
However, one suspect, remains at large and efforts are underway to apprehend him and recover the weapons used in the robberies.
All five arrested suspects were arraigned before the Atasomanso Circuit Court on May 13, 2025.
They were remanded into police custody and are scheduled to reappear on June 4, 2025.
