I did Ashawo and cocaine business to support my husband but he left me – Old Woman
A Ghanaian woman known simply as Mama has shared a heartbreaking story of betrayal, sacrifice, and lost love, detailing how she gave up everything—including her dignity, freedom, and future—all in the name of a man who eventually abandoned her.
Speaking on Oyerepa Afutuo with Auntie Naa, monitored by DailyNewsGhana, Mama opened up about her past, which involved prostitution and drug trafficking, all done to support a man she deeply loved.
Her story began in the 1980s when she travelled to Nigeria with a group of friends, hoping to find better opportunities. There, she got involved in commercial sex work. Despite the stigma, she made good money and returned to Ghana feeling somewhat financially stable.
In 1992, after coming back home, Mama met a man named Joe. He quickly became her boyfriend and the reason she continued pushing herself beyond limits. “I used to give him a lot of money because I was doing Ashawo business in Nigeria,” she said. “I loved him, and I did everything to make him happy.”
Even though her line of work was dangerous and emotionally draining, Mama stayed committed to Joe. Later, she and her friends went back to Nigeria and from there, found a way to travel to Germany. They settled in Berlin and resumed prostitution, this time targeting white men who paid large sums for their services.
“We were making good money. I preferred white men because they used to pay huge amounts after being with you,” Mama admitted.
Her stay in Europe didn’t end in Germany. She moved on to Paris with her friends, continuing the same lifestyle. Despite living far from Ghana, her heart remained with Joe. She kept sending him money regularly—not only to support him but also to take care of his entire family.
“I was the one catering for Joe. I did everything for his family because I truly loved him,” she shared. “His mother, sisters, brothers—I took care of them all.”
The two of them eventually had two daughters together. But Mama’s love for Joe pushed her to take even bigger risks. Wanting to earn more, she joined the drug trade. She began selling cocaine, mainly to Arab clients and Nigerian sex workers in Europe.
However, the lifestyle took a heavy toll on her. While trying to make quick money, she became addicted to the very drugs she was selling. From a drug dealer, she became a drug user. Her addiction led her further down a dark path, and she started stealing to feed her habits.
“I ended up a drug addict and a thief,” Mama said through tears, as she recalled the shame and pain of her actions.
But the greatest heartbreak came when the man she had sacrificed everything for—Joe—turned his back on her. After years of loyalty, financial support, and personal destruction, Joe abandoned her and took away all she had worked for.
“To sum it up, my husband left me and took away all that I toiled for. Now, I own nothing,” she said.
Today, Mama has lost almost everything—her money, her dignity, and the man she thought would stand by her forever. Her story is a painful reminder of how far some people go in the name of love, only to be left broken and forgotten.
She shared her experience as a cautionary tale, especially for young women who may be tempted to sacrifice their lives for relationships that don’t value their worth. Her voice, though heavy with regret, carried a message of truth and a plea for others not to walk down the same path.