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The Chief Executive Officer of one of the most blooming footwear brands in Ghana, Royal Diadem Footwear Garage, Benjamin Asiam-Amanfo, has revealed that in the course of his practice as a pharmacy assistant, he discovered a new, insurmountable passion for shoe-making.
In an interview on Joy Learning TV’s entrepreneurship development programme dubbed, ‘The Career Trail’, he disclosed that, the fervor began when his former boss used to make shoes for him to wear to work and church.
In addition, he loved to look nice and do things for himself hence, he approached his former boss and requested to work with him after quitting his job as an pharmacy assistant.
“He was getting me shoes to wear and actually, I love to do things for myself, so along the line, I told him I wanted to work with him. In the beginning, it was a business aspect, he made it for me then I sold it. Later, I told him I wanted to learn and do it myself. That’s how come it started,” he explained.
Starting a business was not a simple process for Benjamin, and like any other businessman, he faced hurdles when he quit his job as a pharmacy assistant to pursue shoe-making.
He mentioned a number of difficulties, including his parents cutting off the power to his ‘kiosk,’ where he began his business.
According to him, this contention went on for about three months but he persisted until his business came to light. He added that this was made possible when Joy Business Van, a business programme on JoyNews captured his story and through that, his parents embraced his new profession.
As a shoe-maker, Benjamin was at the receiving end of much ridicule and belittling, but he was focused and determined though he admits it hasn’t been easy.
“The only thing I really haven’t liked about it is someone looking down on me because the person feels you’re into shoe-making. One thing about me is I hate to disrespect people hence if I’m being disrespected it worries me,” he lamented.
Nonetheless, by dint of hard work and determination, Mr. Asiam-Amanfo affirmed that, through shoe-making, he has met very prominent people including Abeiku Santa, Jerry Justice, Nana Romeo, Fada Dickson, among others, an opportunity that pharmacy could not offer.
He emphatically stated that he has never regretted starting Royal Diadem Footwear Garage despite the mockery he still faces because some people still look down on the profession.
“I would choose shoe-making over pharmacy because it’s flexible and comfortable,” he noted.
He advised aspiring entrepreneurs that “There’s time for everything and patience is key.”
Benjamin Asiam-Amanfo practiced pharmacy for three years and holds a degree in Pharmacy.
Although he may have quit his job as a pharmacy assistant, he still has aspirations of establishing a pharmaceutical shop in the near future.
