Ma-Adaliga

Adaliga

I am 54 years of age and have not been to school as my family didn’t see the need for my education.

I am married and have 4 children but supporting 6 people altogether (including my children’s children as they are working in Kumasi and Tema).

I used to weave baskets to support my family and made about 35 Cedis a month (US$20) or maybe 1 Cedi a day (US 0.75 cents).

I got the seed money to begin doing this from my mother and have been making baskets for 35 years.

I am now a twister for the project. I twist the cut plastic (which is my daughter’s job) into twines for the basket weavers. The G-lish project gives us a lot of help financially. I use the money to:

• Grind millet and corn
• Buy ingredients for cooking
• And I give some to my children to go to school

My greatest challenge is food insufficiency as I have grandchildren and children to take care of and the most important thing to me is my children’s welfare.

We most need a loan to expand our business opportunities.

I like mango and neem trees for shade in the dry season and for fruits.

My plea to our customers is to please continue to buy the Bolga baskets so we can earn a living. Thank you.

[ED: Adaliga is a twister, or someone who twists the cut plastic into twines so that the basket makers can weave the plastic into baskets. All the twisters had the option of basket making or twisting, and chose one or the other, according to personal preference. Some basket makers are tired of making baskets and are happy to do the twisting, guaranteeing a minimum daily wage.]

Adaliga with children and grandchildren

Adaliga and Godwin planting mango