Ex-convict, Mark Mensah was supported to start his own air freshener business through Crime Check Foundation’s ex-convict Reintegration Project.
The project which has Black Stars and New Castle Winger Christian Atsu as the single largest donor has supported many ex-convicts in Ghana with livelihood support.
Mark is an ex-convict who served a four-year jail term at the Winneba local prison for stealing eight bags of cement and three plastic chairs.
In an interview with Crime Check Foundation (CCF), he told the team that after his release from prison, he had to relocate from Apam in the Central region to Accra to seek livelihood and avoid stigmatization from his community.
“Life in the city was a hustle”, said Mark. It took the generosity of a Good Samaritan to offer him a kiosk to lay his head and air fresheners to sell for a daily wage of ₵8.00
After receiving the first tranche of capital from the CCF’s Re-integration project, the CCF team team monitored his performance on the George Walker Bush N1 Street and discovered that the hardworking young man was determined to make the best of his initial capital.
In view of this, the Executive Director of CCF pushed for further support to revamp Mark’s business. Another list of air fresheners he requested to beef up his sales was presented to him. In addition to it, he was given clothes and school bags to be given to his child.
“I have not been helped in this world before like the way Christian Atsu has done,” Mark Mensah said thankfully. He expressed his appreciation to Crime Check Foundation and all the donors for their help to him and his six-year-old son.
