Isaka Banda
Meet Isaka. He is a 14
year old junior high school graduate from Victoria’s Queensland International
School. He aspires to be an internationally celebrated footballer. Like many
young Ghanaians, Isaka believes that though he needs his legs more than any
other thing in his chosen career, education is still the key to his success.
Many of Isaka’s
classmates have dreams just like him- pick a random boy or girl and you are
certain to meet lawyers, singers, doctors, activists and residents. In this
little city of Queensland, surrounded by the jungle of #SodomandGomorrah, the dreams of young people, like the tender
lights of fire flies feed on hope as they wait to shine like the loud rays that
they really are. But first, they have to overcome the walls of oppression,
stigmatization and poverty that surround them.
Sodom& Gomorrah , Accra- Ghana
Isaka is not the only
one among his colleagues who has fierce hopes. These youngsters intend to make
it irrespective of their situation. The majority of the population at #SodomandGomorrah is made of armed
robbers, prostitutes, scrap dealers, kayayei and hawkers. Isaka’s
parents, like most grownups in the slum migrated to Accra from the North in
search of greener pastures and settled in the slam. However, for Isaka and
others his age, #SodomandGomorrah is
home. This is where they were born and it is the only place they know.
Here, there are no
adult high achievers to look up to in their families except for the reckless
robbers and prostitutes who would do anything it took to bring the most money
to their families. There was also the self-acclaimed ruler of the slam who
people feared, anyway. The only real achievers Isaka and his friends could look
up to were those they saw on TV and in the streets- those who rode in big cars,
the polished up journalist and the big talkers, all of whom said negative
things about #SodomandGomorrah in
one way or the other. For Isaka, his biggest #inspiration came from the footballers- the heroes who worked hard
for the country irrespective of its social divisions. It fascinated him that
they did not mind that he was a sodomite, but worked hard to make him proud.
But he also heard most footballers were cheated because of their lack of
education. So for him, education was indeed, the key.
At about 4pm on their
graduation day, Isaka said goodbye to his six other classmates and headed home.
He crossed the potholed road behind the market where the graduation was held
and then took about a hundred steps before reaching the yam market. Mama who
had bent over her yams to rearrange them after serving a customer, upon hearing
the shouts of the other market women straightened up and run to hug her son.
“Ye da Nyame ase oo”, “Ye da Nyame ase oo” she shouted in her Northern accent.
Isaka, feeling important and uncomfortable at same time, hugged and shook some
of the market women and hit shoulders with some of the men before he continued
his journey home. He maneuvered through porches, sitting rooms and refuse dumps
before he got onto his own compound.
During the weeks that
followed, Isaka lived the normal life of a JHS graduate. He stayed out often,
playing football most of the time and helping at washing bays to make a few
Cedes.
One gloomy evening, a
fortnight after his graduation, Mama and Papa informed their eldest son that he
had to take up a trade in order to cater for himself and support the upbringing
of his six other siblings: Anas, Shaban, Aisha, Sadatu, Arafat and Mamartha.
They could not afford the cost of a secondary education.
Isaka had a plan. He
was determined to achieve his career goal no matter what, and dropping out of
school was not an option he would support his family but not by trading. He
would do it playing football. Eventhough that did not promise much income as
trade did, he could sharpen his skills and be exposed to opportunities.
Achieving his future goal mattered more to Isaka than the thought of
disappointing his family now. After all, they would enjoy his success as much
as he would.
Isaka tackling his opponents at a local
match in Sodom & Gomorrah
He joined the
champions, a local football club in #SodomandGomorrah
where he earned GHS12 a week in allowance. He split the amount with his family
and saved one-third of his half. After four years of hard work and hustle, he
competed for a spot in Accra hearts of Oak team and won. Isaka Banda, the
hearts of Oak defender made GHS 200 a week in allowance. He split that amount
with his family and saved a third of his half. Within five years of playing for
Hearts of Oak, he won a spot in the national team. Defender Isaka Banda made
GHS1000 a week. He split the amount with his family and saved a third of his
half.
Isaka’s passion for his
profession shown through his skill and he rose steadily. With the third of his
income which he invested, he saw himself through school up to tertiary level
where he studied computer science and literature. Soon, he received requests to
play for international teams. With the financial support he gave his family,
all six of his younger siblings made it to secondary school while they still
lived in Sodom and Gomorrah. The family then put up a two storey building in
Dansoman and moved from Sodom and Gomorrah to live there. Anas, Shaban and
Aisha went to local universities while Sadatu, Arafat and Mamartha had their
tertiary education outside the country. Mamartha schooled in Manchester in
order to stay close to Isaka.
Isaka’s family home in
Dansoman
Today, Isaka is not
only an internationally recognized, award-winning footballer. He is also
revered in his family and he has given a new meaning of hope to children who
call #SodomandGomorrah home.
Isaka posing for a
photo after receiving the topmost award in international football
Follow the links to
listen to Isaka and his family, tell their story.
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