Two shoe shine boys attach professionalism to their trade
If you observe the shoes of some top public servants gleaming irresistibly, it could be because they have patronised the services of two skillful shoe polishers who ply their trade at the Ministries in Accra.
Kwabena (Kobby) and Kwadwo, employees of Mr Kwame Frimpong, a Ghanaian-born German returnee and entrepreneur, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Wednesday that some of the top-ranking public servants and other important personalities in the country patronised their services around the Ministries in Accra.
Mr Frimpong copied the idea to attach professionalism and innovation to the art of shoe polishing from close observation at the way some shoe polishers in Germany conducted themselves.
Located behind the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing and Ministry of Transport, the professional shoe polishers have erected a booth under a nim-tree located close to the taxi rank, where their clients could comfortably sit and have their shoes polished.
Clients could wear their shoes and have the footwear polished while they placed their feet on an elevated wooden rack and listen to music from a small radio.
With their customer-friendliness, the shoe polishers are able to attract and retain customers who followed them wherever they moved their location owing to constant challenges they faced in search of a permanent location.
Kobby who is a nephew of Mr Frimpong said they used quality materials which originated from Germany and Israel.
He said quality materials for shoe polishing were critical to the sustainability of the leather-wear.
Elated Kobby, who is a Senior High School graduate, said he loved the job and attached importance to what he did because the work brought him close to very important personalities in society.
He invited the GNA reporter to experience the shoe polishing treat as he continued his narration of the routine in his work.
Kobby said he first removed the stains from a client’s footwear by using a stain-removing solution, a damp cloth was used to wipe the footwear clean and then a shoe polish of high quality was smeared on the shoe followed by the stroking of a brush.
Kobby explained that he would later use a dry cloth called buff to rub the footwear to make it shiny.
He said it was the intention of the employer to expand the business to most business districts in the country, adding “Marketing opportunities exist in places including University of Ghana, Legon campus and other institutions.”
Kobby expressed the optimism that access to credit facilities would enable them to expand their business.
Source: GNA