Hard Work, Resilience, and Faith: The Story of Alice, a Food Vendor in Tema
In an interview with DJ Nyaami on Business Link, Alice, a well-known food vendor in Tema Community 5, shared the inspiring story behind her long-running business, Last Hour Food Joint. Known for her flavorful traditional dishes and late-night service, she revealed how she started her food business in 1995 after completing a commercial course and attachment at Tema.Observing the low pay and lack of fulfillment in office work, Alice decided to pursue her passion—cooking.
“My favorite thing is cooking,” she said. “I started small—buying utensils bit by bit from 1992, and eventually I built a cage-like kiosk where I began cooking and selling rice, stew, spaghetti, and salad.”
The name Last Hour was inspired by her commitment to serve food late into the night. Within a month of opening, Alice’s food began pulling crowds, even attracting drivers in flashy cars. Rumors later spread in the early 2000s that a snake had been found at her shop—a false story she believes was started by someone who wanted to ruin her business. That same year, tragedy struck when she lost her child, which deeply affected her emotionally and financially. Her business collapsed for a time.
Despite setbacks—including the loss of her child, fake rumors, and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic—Alice remained resilient. She restarted her business by cooking and selling local dishes like banku, fufu, kokonte, and tuo zaafi. She built a new shop in 2019 and expanded to new branches in Community 7 and Sakumono.
However, Alice warned others about the dangers of hiring untrustworthy staff and family members.
“I trusted someone with my money, but there were debts, and I had to take control of my finances again,” she shared. Now, she manages her earnings herself, stressing the importance of sacrifice and discipline in running a food business.
Alice also spoke about mentoring her daughter, but the young woman admitted the work was too tough for her. “Maybe she’ll change her mind someday,” Alice said. “She’ll be 24 in June.”
She currently pays her workers per day and praised one long-serving staff member, her auntie, who has been with her for 19 years. Alice emphasized the role of faith in her journey: “Don’t hire family members blindly. Be honest, add God, and everything will fall into place.”
Her food joint, located opposite Temasco School in Community 5, also offers deliveries. Through her work, she has been able to take good care of her family, ensuring the children are well-educated—some studying in Canada and others in Accra Technical University.
Her final advice: “If you want to go into the food business, you must sacrifice, stay committed, be accountable, and start with God.”
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