Resilience, versatility and service: The story of Ohemea Odiasempa Abena Ayeba Okani I

Ohemea Odiasempa Abena Ayeba Okani I, known in private life as Mrs Susan Essilfie, is a woman of many parts-a royal, a mother, an entrepreneur, a sports enthusiast, and above all, a symbol of resilience. Her life story weaves together the threads of tradition, business, service, and personal strength, making her one of the most dynamic figures within her community and beyond.

Her roots in royalty run deep. Born into royal household, her late father served as one of the chiefs, and by lineage, her destiny was tied to lead­ership and service.

Yet, her elevation to the stool was not just about tradition-it was about her willingness to serve.

Speaking to The Spectator at her residence at Spintex in Accra, Ohemea Okani I of Adukrom Akuapim, recalled one of the uncles in her royal family emphasised the importance of sustain­ing their heritage and supporting their people.

For her, stepping into that respon­sibility was considered an honourable calling.

She stated that the role of a Queen mother was not ceremonial but rather carries a lot of weight: the discipline to uphold values, the responsibility to guide the youth, and the obligation to contribute to development.

She believes that Queen mothers were meant to safeguard livelihoods, encourage progress, and serve as role models in their communities.

“The main aim is to support the township, especially in youth develop­ment,” she notes.

She however admitted that the role comes with challenges, particularly financial, as many traditional leaders were not on formal payrolls.

Ohemea Okani I said without an independent source of income, it can be difficult to fulfill these duties effectively.

That is where her entrepreneurial skills and strength shines. Over the years, Mrs Essilfie has built a diver­sified business portfolio spanning construction, cleaning services, tex­tiles, detergents, and food and drinks production.

Previously, she was active in the fisheries trade, following in the footsteps of her mother, who was a fishmonger.

Although she eventually left the trade due to market challenges and losses, the lessons she carried forward about resilience, bargaining, and perseverance continue to shape her entrepreneurial approach.

Her versatility is perhaps most visible in sports. For years, she owned and managed Sutick Gym at Tema Community 1, Site 15, a commercial gym that attracted footballers, musi­cians, and fitness enthusiasts.

Her passion for sports grew natu­rally—she was always active, loved physical activity, and found joy in encouraging others to train.

From that base, she was drawn to boxing, a sport she considers both tough and inspiring.

To her, boxing was more than en­tertainment; it is business, discipline, and a powerful tool for channeling youthful energy into productive out­comes.

“Boxing is a big-time business,” she says with conviction.

She dreams of seeing Ghana reclaim her reputation as a boxing power­house, putting more young athletes on the global stage.

She also advocates for women to take up the sport, not only for fitness but also as a pathway to empower­ment and financial independence.

Her vision is already inspiring the next generation—her son recently completed a course in boxing pro­motion and is now awaiting his license to officially step into the business side of the sport.

Beyond her businesses and sports initiatives, Ohemea Okani I has also carved strong niche in philanthropy.

She is the found­er of Royals of Valour International, a non-profit organisa­tion that supports and trains women for free in soap making, baking and other vocational skills.

So far, about 200 women have benefited from this initiative, gain­ing practical skills that enable them to earn an income and support their families.

For her, empowering women with skills is one of the surest ways of breaking cycles of poverty and depen­dency.

Balancing tradition, business, and family has not been easy, particularly after she lost her husband during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Left to raise two children on her own, she leaned on faith and determi­nation. Her daughter is now pursuing music, while her son is preparing to make his mark as a boxing promoter.

Though the journey has been tough, she sees her children’s progress as one of her greatest achievements.

As a devout Christian, she attributes her strength to God and also acknowl­edges the values of discipline, com­passion and resilience instilled by her parents.

She recalls how her mother’s work as a fishmonger required long hours, frequent travel, and unwavering de­termination. Those lessons taught her never to rely solely on others and to take pride in hard work.

Ohemea Okani I urged young women to work hard, learn a trade and not rely on anyone else for survival.

She stressed that in today’s world, self-reliance is not optional, it is essential.

She cautions against the modern tendency of young people to seek shortcuts or instant wealth, encour­aging them instead to focus on skills, discipline, and perseverance.

She also challenges traditional gender roles, pointing out that no field should be seen as exclusively for men or women.

Whether in construction, trucking, or sports management, she believes women can thrive if they were de­termined and prepared. “The most important thing is to do it right, make your money, and plan for the future,” she emphasised.

• By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu