Ramatu Mutala
Weaver
Ramatu Mutala (the very left on the picture) is a 30 year old mother of three. Her first born, Mercy is six years old and in primary one at the Guabuliga Saint Michael Primary, her second born, Elisha is four years old and in kindergarten one (KG1) and her third, Precious who is only three months old is still being breast fed. Madam Ramatu is married to a peasant farmer, Mr. Mutala. Ramatu and her husband do farming during the rainy season to take care of the family and travels to the southern part of Ghana during the lean season to work as head potter. A phenomenon in Ghana popularly referred to as “Kaayayo”.
She has been looking forward to receiving an entrepreneurial skills training where she could stay in Guabuliga and take control of her life without going through the herculean task of travelling to southern Ghana looking for greener pastures. The “Kaayaaye’ comes with negative social vices such as rape, thievery, prostitution and others. Luck smiled on her when BA chose her among those to receive skills training in kente weaving.
As part of BRAVEAURORA’s commitment to push entrepreneurial activities in the community of Guabuliga, BRAVEAURORA gave her a skill that would help her secure her livelihood as well as those of her dependence. This support has given madam Ramatu the opportunity to establish her own business and she is now able to take care of her children’s school needs in Guabuliga from the proceeds from her business. When Ramatu was asked about what motivated her to join TC she had this to say ““My motivation is my desire to never go back to Kaayayo,”. Ramatu was also asked why she does not want to go back to ‘Kaayayo” and this was her response “Sometimes, the best motivation is not what someone says to you – it’s what you’ve experienced yourself.”
After graduation from Training Center, BRAVEAURORA assisted her with a startup capital to produce woven materials for sale in Guabuliga and the surrounding villages. This has become a game changer in her life. She has currently opened her own shop and has six apprentices learning weaving from her. Each apprentice paid three hundred (300) Ghana cedis to her in order to learn. With the help of her apprentices, she is able to produce in larger quantities sell in Guabuliga and the surrounding villages. She is making normal profit from her weaving business.
Ramatu is so delighted that her entrepreneurial dreams have finally come to pass. Ramatu is now a happy woman as she is now able to take care of herself and family. She has also done away with the idea of “Kaayaaye”. When we contact her about her message for BRAVEAURORA, Madam Ramatu has this to say “I am grateful to BA; your programs have transformed Guabuliga and changed my life personally for the better”. Below is a snapshot of madam Ramatu and her business.