Meet The Mamas

Georgina Doku, Seamstress (Abompe, Ghana)

“Prosperity means bringing people together. After that, you prosper by working and being serious about everything you are doing.”

Meet Gina: She is a mother first and a businesswoman second. Her business as a seamstress allows her to enroll all of her children in school. She would love for her firstborn to be a doctor, a dream she has long held. Gina would like all of her children to prosper by taking jobs that are “interesting, studious, and pay well.” Gina fondly remembers the day that a Global Mamas representative visited her shop and asked if she would be interested in partnering with Global Mamas. “Of course, I accepted.”

“My proudest personal accomplishment is making sure that each of my children can have an education.”

Gifty Acquah, Seamstress (Cape Coast, Ghana)

Gifty Acquah is one of the newest seamstresses to join Global Mamas and is busy creating the Medium Size Tote Bags. Growing up in Cape Coast, Gifty attended St. Mary's Vocational School in the nearby town of Elmina before becoming a year-long apprentice with a local seamstress. After working with Global Mamas for only two months, Gifty says she enjoys it a lot, even if it means working most days from morning until night. With her newfound success as a Global Mama, Gifty has put her added income towards the education of her three children, two boys and one girl. Her two eldest are currently working in Ghana's second largest city, Kumasi, while her twelve-year-old lives and goes to school in Cape Coast. Gifty hopes that Global Mamas will continue growing so that other women in the community will have the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of trading goods internationally. She loves to design new clothes, but also would like more time to take up her favorite hobby of reading books. Despite the hard work, Gifty is sure to attend church every Sunday and enjoys spending time with her mother, who visits her home often.

Gifty Dzagli, Seamstress (Ho, Ghana)

Before becoming a seamstress, Gifty Dzagli worked as a house servant. She was often mistreated but she managed to learn to sew in her spare time from another seamstress. After leaving her job as a house servant, she became a seamstress' apprentice to further learn the trade. Gifty has now been with the cooperative in Ho since June 2008. Her family, consisting of her parents and four brothers, are all farmers and she does what she can to help them out. The majority of her income, however, goes to supporting herself and her daughter, Precious, whom she hopes will become a doctor someday.

Gladys Annan, Seamstress (Cape Coast, Ghana)

“To me prosperity is getting a steady income “

Meet Gladys: Gladys began her career by working as an apprentice for a Mama for two and a half years. Once she felt confident enough to manage her own business, she joined the Global Mama’s family as a Mama herself. Since 2013, this talented seamstress has owned own shop. Beaming, she claims that “Global Mamas is the biggest change in my life.” Not just a Mama, but also mother of three kids who are in school, Gladys states that Global Mamas is the permanent income she earns in order to provide for her children. Gladys feels very proud of the fact that her products are being appreciated and bought from people all over the world. She is one of the women behind the patchwork wallet and zip wristlet. In addition to being a part of the Global Mamas network, Gladys owns her own shop where she produces dresses for the local market. She loves her job and dreams about being able to develop her business even more.

“My dream is to buy my own land and build a house.”

Gloria Amanful, Seamstress (Cape Coast, Ghana)

“To me prosperity, is achieving whatever you want to do in the future”

Meet Gloria: As a mother of a six years old girl, Gloria’s main happiness is to see her daughter healthy and successful. The stable income she has earned since working with Global Mamas has enabled her to add money to her daughter’s savings account. Indeed, she works hard to save for her daughter so that she is able to cover her university fees and become a nurse. She is one of the women behind the handsome boy shirts and beautiful pocket dresses. She is delighted to know that customers from all over the world are buying her products. Gloria appreciates their loyalty—it makes it possible for all of the Mamas to live a better life.Apart from sewing for Global Mamas, she sews uniforms for the University of Cape Coast.

As an ambitious woman, her dream is to open and manage her own clothing factory and keep developing as a seamstress and as an entrepreneur. She remarks: “I am proud of my work and proud of not begging from others.”

Grace “Araba” Koufie, Seamstress (Cape Coast, Ghana)

Grace “Araba” Koufie’s life is filled with activity—in her busy home, her busy workshop, and the busy open air market near where she lives in Cape Coast. Though she started her seamstress business several years before becoming a Mama, her partnership with Global Mamas allowed Grace to pay off debt and start saving. Now, she earns enough money to cover regular school fees and medical expenses as well as support family members in need. In her own words, "Global Mamas has helped me a lot. Before Global Mamas, I stayed at home doing nothing, but they have provided me with regular business and a regular income.” Grace dreams big—hoping to one day open a bigger shop for more employees and build a bigger home for her family.

Grace Adoboe, Seamstress (Cape Coast, Ghana)

Grace Adoboe had a winding path to her current occupation as a Cape Coast business owner and seamstress for Global Mamas. Grace was born in the Volta Region and lived in Togo for a decade before returning to Ghana to establish her shop in Accra. Now Grace is finally settled with her business and family in Cape Coast, where she acknowledges, “I am a busy lady.” This Mama’s main focus is school uniforms and her main priority is customer satisfaction, as she often sacrifices her personal time to get a job done and ensure it is done correctly. This strategy has paid off for Grace, and she explains that, “Global Mamas has helped a lot. With my income, I can help my family and my husband.”

Grace Batsa, Bead Assembler (Odumase-Krobo, Ghana)

“Prosperity is being able to continue my bread making in the future.”

Meet Grace: When her aunt told her about Global Mamas, Grace decided to apply. Since coming to Global Mamas, Grace has gained new skills in assembling beads and is proud of the money she has made. She comments, “My life has changed. I have been able to buy more things and support more people.” She has been able to use this money to pay for her younger sister to go to school, one of her proudest accomplishments. In the future, Grace hopes to be able to build her own house and become a bread baker in her community.

When asked what she would like to say to the women buying her products, Grace says, “I want to thank them for buying our products and ask them to buy more!

Grace Joe, Beadmaker (Odumase-Krobo, Ghana)

“Prosperity is having some money in hand to use for health and for my family."

Meet Grace: When the Global Mamas volunteer who helped found the Krobo site approached Grace about creating and selling beads to Global Mamas, she and her beadmaker brother, Moses, both agreed. Prior to making beads, Grace was a street seller, balancing heavy bowls of bread, peanuts, and sugar atop her head to earn money for beadmaking tools. Since working for Global Mamas, Grace and Moses have learned how to improve the quality of their beads. They are happy to work with Global Mamas because of the reliable pay and transparency behind pricing. Grace has two children, including Global Mamas Krobo site general manager, Gladys. Congratulations to Grace and Moses – the 2016 Global Mama and Papa of the year.

When asked how working with Global Mamas has changed their lives, they simply say, “Global Mamas really makes our livelihood better.”

Grace Osabutey, Batiker (Prampram, Ghana)

“I feel that I’ve worked for prosperity and that I have achieved it.”

Meet Grace: After completing junior high school, Grace enrolled in a vocational school to learn how to batik. Following graduation, she heard about the opportunity to join Global Mamas from a friend. Grace enjoys her work at Global Mamas; she says she prefers the dyes because they don’t fade over time and she loves seeing her fabrics transformed into products. Grace designed her own pattern for a contest to create a uniform for seamstresses and batikers in Ashaiman. Grace dreams of one day opening her own large batik shop. When she’s not batiking at Global Mamas, Grace enjoys spending time with her daughter Clementina and supporting her dream of becoming a doctor.

“I like working in teams and trying new techniques together.”

Grace Tettey-Ku, Bead Assembler (Odumase-Krobo, Ghana)

“Global Mamas gives me more prosperity than when I was a farmer, because now I can depend on getting paid.”

Meet Grace: A former farmer, Grace is now a bead assembler at the Krobo location. Several years ago, Grace was in an accident that left her unable to farm. She was very worried about her future until she was offered a job with Global Mamas. Now that she works with Global Mamas she says, "I have great changes. I used to not have any hope because of my accident. Now that I'm with Global Mamas, I can rely on my work and I have big hopes.” In the future, Grace would like to build a provisions store to earn money to further support her family.

When asked what she would like to say to the women wearing her products, Grace says, “I want to give thanks because of my accident I cannot do many jobs, but Global Mamas provides me with money to save each month.”

Hannah Dodoo, Seamstress (Cape Coast, Ghana)

“My prosperity is not only financial, but involves health, community, religion, family, and sharing. Sharing my prosperity makes me prosper.”

Meet Hannah: One of the six Ghanaian co-founders, Hannah has helped shape Global Mamas into the organization it is now. Hannah is a seamstress who creates styles from her broad range of experiences abroad. She draws on her knowledge from Ghana, America and Germany where she learned to sew in 1976. Six years after learning to sew, she opened a shop in Cape Coast where her family resides. When not working, Hannah enjoys scrapbooking and reminiscing over her time on business trips abroad. And while her business has brought her prosperity, she maintains that her comfort and well-being come from more than just her job.

“If I have ever achieved, it has been because I share my talents with others. When I share my talents, it makes me happy. So I share my happiness with others.”

Hubert Mensah, Quality Champion (Cape Coast, Ghana)

“To me, prosperity means being successful and giving life worth. I will achieve prosperity when I am able to have my own house, cars, and business.”

Meet Hubert: His friends call him “Huby,” and he is a quality control champion and tour guide at Global Mamas. He first heard about Global Mamas through his aunt, Elizabeth Cato Cudjoe, who is a Global Mama batiker herself. As a quality control champion, he motivates the batikers and seamstresses to submit high quality products, as well as advises and supports them in their production. Since becoming a tour guide at Global Mamas, Hubert has relished learning how to relate to people in different cultures. And he especially loves watching his Mamas achieve their goals. To Hubert, work “feels more like a family here.” His favorite Global Mamas design is “sailing, ” because of the beautiful colors and pattern. In his free time, he loves going to the beach, watching movies, and listening to “high Life” and Gospel Cools music.

Isabella Amoah Kwa, Seamstress (Cape Coast, Ghana)

“I will be prosperous when I do not need anything, apart from needing God. To me, prosperity means living responsibly and happily.”

Meet Isabella: A seamstress that specializes in men’s fitted shirts, Isabella joined Global Mamas due to a friend’s recommendation. Since joining the organization, Isabella is very proud to be able to pay her rent while also sending her own daughter and her brother’s daughter to school. “I hope that my kids graduate school with flying colors to become prominent people,” she said. In her spare time, Isabella enjoys knitting, cooking banku (with extra spice!) and listening to gospel music. Self-described as “always happy,” Isabella is never without a laugh or a smile.

“Ghana is a great place. I feel proud that the things that I’ve done here in Ghana have reached so far around the world.”

Issifu Asana, Seamstress (Ho, Ghana)

At the young age of 26, Issifu Asana became the manager of the sewing co-operative in Ho. Issifu, who is both Togolese and Ghanaian, attended trade school to learn to sew. She began working with the co-operative in June 2008, and had already been a seamstress for 3 years by the time she started. She used to work just for herself but found that working in the co-operative has provided more business, and she enjoys the companionship of everyone who works there! Issifu has spent most of her life in Ho, growing up with two brothers and three sisters. She has a twin sister who is a hairdresser and batiker. She currently lives by herself but often helps out her mother and father.

Jemima Brenya, Soap Makers (Adenta, Ghana)

Jemima started working with Naasakle, a Global Mamas shea butter partner, in 2008. Though her role is in accountanting, she also helps out in production. She likes packaging and prides herself on knowing how to create an attractive product. But work at Naasakle is more than a simple job for her—it puts her skills to good use and is an opportunity to work with her sister Eugenia, owner of Naasakle. She has always enjoyed math and worked for the Ghanaian government and the United Nations. Even with this formal background, she loves the relaxed environment at Naasakle and says all her co-workers feel like family.

Jennifer Benedicta Ocran, Batiker (Cape Coast, Ghana)

Jennifer Benedicta Ocran is a born entrepreneur and will do what it takes to make her career goals a reality. She attended more than a year of batik schooling to earn her certification, and then worked in tie-dye to earn enough income to invest in her own expensive batik equipment. Now that she has established herself as a successful batiker and Global Mama, Jennifer is pursuing her dream of opening a catering and wedding planning business. She attends catering school while continuing the work that pays for her education, splitting her days between batiking, going to class, studying, and helping out friends and family members. Jennifer beams when she talks about her success so far and her big business plans for the future, “With God on our side we can do all number of things.”

Jennifer Thompson , Seamstress (Cape Coast, Ghana)

Jennifer Thompson is a woman with a quiet voice but a loud heart. She learned how to sew in the small village where she was born. Recently, this hobby turned into a career when she teamed up with Global Mamas. Jennifer's husband passed away, leaving her to care for and support her three children. Jennifer recalls this time in her life and tearfully remembers, "Global Mamas has been the most important thing in my life, because they were the only ones to help me when my husband died. Global Mamas is a great company, because they help many women and they saved me. To me, Global Mamas means 'great mother'." Through Global Mamas Jennifer has learned about book-keeping, financial independence, and finance responsibility. These new skills, along with the orders she gets from Global Mamas, have nearly doubled Jennifer's income and has enabled her to dream of accomplishing even bigger things. Jennifer hopes to be a "big woman" who has multiple shops and is able to train others to be seamstresses. She also dreams of being able to buy a school so that she can provide children with a proper education without the burden of school fees. On the seldom occasion when Jennifer is not working, she enjoys singing songs and simply going to the seaside and watching the ocean.

Joanna Minnow, Seamstress (Cape Coast, Ghana)

Joanna Minnow has always used her talent to help others, beginning when she would make clothes for her friends and family as a young girl. When she started sewing as a career, Jennifer could barely afford her one sewing machine or the rent for her workspace, but then her friend introduced her to Global Mamas. Now that she works as a seamstress for Global Mamas, Joanna has her own apprentices, a handful of sewing machines and a weaving machine. Joanna is pleased not only with her successes but her ability to keep serving others. Joanna says that, “Global Mamas has provided me with plenty of work and regular income, allowing me to help the needy people in my church by providing them with food, clothes, and more. I love kids and I love to help them.”

Joyce Aboagye, Batiker (Cape Coast, Ghana)

Joyce Aboagye, a batiker with Global Mamas, is enjoying the new business of selling her creations abroad. She grew up in the Eastern Region of Ghana but eventually moved to the Central Region where she met her auto-electrician husband. Cape Coast soon became her home where she opened her own seamstress and batiking business, El-Shadaye Fashion and Batik. With the help of her Global Mamas sales, Joyce is sending her two boys, ages six and nine, to a local school as well as employing four junior apprentices. According to Joyce, who was introduced to Global Mamas by a seamstress friend, "Global Mamas is good. We need more customers from abroad." Joyce has been fortunate to keep all of her old clients, and her business is continuing to do very well. For Joyce, the most engaging part of her work is developing new designs and, of course, wearing them around the Cape Coast area. She believes non-governmental organizations (NGOs), like Global Mamas, are a great way to empower women and offer them a way to provide more for their families.